In the 21st century, TV manufacturers have made great strides in developing TV technology to maximise viewing pleasure for the consumer. But with so many advancements in such a short period of time, users can be left wondering, what’s next?
From 8K TVs to user-generated video content, just what can we expect over the next few months or years when it comes to TV technology? This article aims to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, as well as make our own predictions on the future of TV.
THE FUTURE OF CONTENT
Over the last two decades, TV has continued to evolve and grow in importance, on both a global scale and within the home. More than just the TV though, the content we are exposed to has grown exponentially with the rise of YouTube, social networking and streaming services. But in future years, making the decision about what we should be watching – and how we should be watching – is going to be an even bigger question.
STREAMING SERVICES
The rise of Netflix is an almost ominous toll for the traditional method of watching television. With traditional television, episodes are released weekly and magazines speculate on each episode as it’s released. Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime often release shows en masse. Without the weekly wait, more people are engaging and even reveling in the act of binge watching.
The way we watch TV is shifting from weekly watchers to marathoners. If the number of people preferring to binge their content continues to rise, then shows subject to weekly releases may become a thing of the past.
Netflix itself is set to change, too; no longer content with acting as the middleman for creators such as Disney, Netflix announced in June 2018 that it has been planning on moving towards a future where its content consists of entirely original shows. New challengers are set to appear too, as Disney is aiming to create its own streaming service as it expands its empire.
USER-GENERATED CONTENT
User-generated content is the latest in content creation, and it could be on the up. It is defined as content which is created and spread by fans. These fans aren’t paid to do this either, but the effect is that it typically promotes a brand. It can be a video, a picture, a tweet or a blog; chances are that you’ve made a piece of user-generated content already without realising it. The draw of User-Generated Content (UGC) is often in its seeming honesty and humanity, which may lead to the format being mimicked by businesses in the future for advertising.
THE FUTURE OF HARDWARE
8K TVs are the latest development in TV hardware, but due to their hefty price tag, it’s unlikely that you’ll be spending this year’s World Television Day sat in front of one. Costing over £10,000 new, and frequently hitting prices around £15,000, 8K is a visual sensation with over 33,000,000 pixels lining its screen surface. 8K TVs are luxury and indulgence combined, but this won’t always be the case. There’s hope that 8K content will be ready in Asia by the time of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was actually recorded in 8K, even though it was distributed at 2K. The world is looking forward to even greater images with 8K.
THE RETURN OF 3D?
3D photos are Facebook’s latest addition to their app, and we have to admit, having pictures of your pets in 3D is pretty cool. Sadly, it doesn’t look like TVs will be pushing 3D again any time soon, but if you’re looking for a TV to watch all your favourite 3D films, we can supply you with cheap 3D TVs.
TV is always evolving, with a new technological feature appearing every year. We’ve got improved image definition with the release of 8K TVs; maybe next year will give us the ultimate sound system. Perhaps in a few years, we’ll start seeing a rise in popularity for 360-degree video content designed for the Rift and Oculus Rift machines. Whatever technological innovations come next, we’ll be here to provide you with the best cheap TVs.
