Five Reasons Why Eyeballs Are Migrating from TV to Online Video

When I lived in a dorm without a television, watching DVDs on my laptop kept me sane. At the time, I longed for the day when TV shows would become available online. But even then, I’d have never predicted the frequency with which I’d eventually be watching TV shows online, especially given that I now own a perfectly good HD set.

TechCrunch, Adweek, BBC and just about every media outlet report that online video viewing has spiked since the WGA strike began in early November. The JackMyers Emotional Connections Household of the Future Survey reports that 18 to 24s are watching more TV online. While there’s no refuting the statistics, the WGA strike is just one of several reasons why eyeballs are migrating to online video. Here are a few others:

1. DVRs aren’t perfect. A couple of months ago, I set up my DVR to record a full night’s worth of television. My cable went out and I returned home to find that none of my shows had recorded. Cable goes out and DVRs don’t always work. Even when DVRs do work, they record two shows at a time. While television programming becomes more specialized and cable channels multiply, a dual tuner just isn’t enough.

2. Online TV is interactive. When I missed an episode of Gossip Girl, I went to CWTV.com to watch the episode online. During the episode, I noticed the “CW bonus box,” where I was able to see the artist and titles of featured music, participate in opinion polls and get style information about what the characters wore. While I didn’t exactly appreciate the repetitive Old Navy ads, I could have clicked through to Old Navy.com to purchase the new line that was being advertised. It’s nice to have the option.

3. Nostalgia is key. I’d forgotten about how much I love The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Who’s the Boss until I stumbled upon them online. My So Called Lifeand WKRP in Cincinnati are also among many vintage gems to be found.

4. It’s free. I could easily watch the aforementioned vintage shows on DVD; but I’d have to pay for them. Online video allows me to browse both classic and new TV shows and watch them immediately, without spending a dime.

5. It’s portable. My 32” HDTV weighs upwards of 30 lb., my MacBook weighs just over 5; and if I owned an iPhone, it would weigh just under 5 ounces.