TV Guide Devoted to Multiplatform TV

Filed in archive Internet TV on May 1, 2006

ITVT News blog is reporting that TV Guide is now "recognizing that multiplatform TV has hit the mainstream" by launching "a new weekly column called Downloads."

The column will provide recommendations of TV programs that are newly available for download or online viewing each week, alongside information on where to find those programs.

I suspect that this will have no impact on new media offerings. Mostly because the old TV Guide model worked because one linear media (the weekly magazine) had a very stable and consistant publishing requirement for another linear media (television).

But the future is non-linear and there is no ceiling to how many video downloads could be listed. As a result, TV Guide will likely highlight only very popular content. This is exactly what they are doing in their first issue because it "recommends" four primetime shows: "Desperate Housewives," "Commander in Chief," "Lost," and "Alias" at ABC.com. Not exactly risky or cutting edge recommendations.

But, it is an interesting to note that even TV Guide sees that the future of video is changing.