Cablevision's new tech push may make DVR obsolete on clarkhoward.com

The Supreme Court has denied the right to challenge Cablevision on the issue of storing on-demand programming on servers instead of individual home devices, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This is a move that paves the way for technology to make your DVR obsolete. It also almost certainly means there will be new ways to watch video programming that we can't even conceive of yet.

Back in the late 1990s, staffers on the show thought Clark was crazy for talking about ReplayTV, which was the predecessor to TiVo.

Well, this Cablevision decision is bigger than DVR.

Within the next 2 years, the consumer champ predicts we'll have some kind of video device -- either at home or of the portable variety -- that will allow you to watch whatever you want, wherever you want, as you wish.

The coming developments will blow apart the traditional model where programmers decide what to air and when. You'll be completely in control of where, when and how you watch video content.

Will there even be program schedules -- other than for actual live events -- in 10 years from now?

What others are saying

DVR Options
Check out the DTV Pal by Dish Network (no subscription required) http://www.dtvpal.com/
The early bugs have been worked out, and it's awesome...like Tivo but no month-to-month costs. You purchase the device for $300 & use with your antenna. We had satellite for years & then also tried the home computer DVR set-up. This is way more convenient than home computer/Windows Media Player DVR use...the remote is like a dish remote & is simple!
By Kim from Ohio @ 03/01/10 06:01:45 AMreport abuse
schedule, old tech
Yes, there will be schedules. Even if it is mostly "online", there will be a schedule as to when a new episode of a program is released to the public.

Also, look how many people dont upgrade to new technology. See how many people needed to get those converter boxes so they could watch digital programming recently, and if it werent for the fact people with cable tv dont need them, it would have been even worse. I know lots of people with tvs up to 10 years old. Remember how many people couldnt even hook up a DVD player because their tv didnt have A/V plugs in the back? There will be lots of people who are satisfied with what they already have.
By R.L.Evans @ 07/02/09 11:20:52 PMreport abuse
Product Placement
We'll probably see more and more product placement during the shows themselves. When Degree sponsored Eureka, I found it quite creative how the writers "worked" the deodorant into the storyline every week.
By z @ 07/02/09 06:20:43 PMreport abuse
Program Schedules
I think there will always be a need for program schedules. How often do you record something then never watch it? But we all will make the effort to watch something at its broadcast time.
By TJ @ 07/02/09 05:51:37 PMreport abuse
The Future
When it becomes easy and common for people to bypass the commercials, commercial (free) TV will crash. Everyone looks at this new technology as a good thing, but I am predicting that good TV will become more expensive. It is those commercials that keep it relatively cheap. The soap companies and razor blade companies fund the programs in order to get eyeballs to watch their commercials. When the eyeballs disappear, so does the money. When the money disappears, so does the program.
By Buzz G @ 07/02/09 04:11:00 PMreport abuse

DVR Options

Check out the DTV Pal by Dish Network (no subscription required) http://www.dtvpal.com/
The early bugs have been worked out, and it's awesome...like Tivo but no month-to-month costs. You purchase the device for $300 & use with your antenna. We had satellite for years & then also tried the home computer DVR set-up. This is way more convenient than home computer/Windows Media Player DVR use...the remote is like a dish remote & is simple!

By Kim from Ohio @ 03/01/10 06:01:45 AMreport abuse

schedule, old tech

Yes, there will be schedules. Even if it is mostly "online", there will be a schedule as to when a new episode of a program is released to the public.

Also, look how many people dont upgrade to new technology. See how many people needed to get those converter boxes so they could watch digital programming recently, and if it werent for the fact people with cable tv dont need them, it would have been even worse. I know lots of people with tvs up to 10 years old. Remember how many people couldnt even hook up a DVD player because their tv didnt have A/V plugs in the back? There will be lots of people who are satisfied with what they already have.

By R.L.Evans @ 07/02/09 11:20:52 PMreport abuse

Product Placement

We'll probably see more and more product placement during the shows themselves. When Degree sponsored Eureka, I found it quite creative how the writers "worked" the deodorant into the storyline every week.

By z @ 07/02/09 06:20:43 PMreport abuse

Program Schedules

I think there will always be a need for program schedules. How often do you record something then never watch it? But we all will make the effort to watch something at its broadcast time.

By TJ @ 07/02/09 05:51:37 PMreport abuse

The Future

When it becomes easy and common for people to bypass the commercials, commercial (free) TV will crash. Everyone looks at this new technology as a good thing, but I am predicting that good TV will become more expensive. It is those commercials that keep it relatively cheap. The soap companies and razor blade companies fund the programs in order to get eyeballs to watch their commercials. When the eyeballs disappear, so does the money. When the money disappears, so does the program.

By Buzz G @ 07/02/09 04:11:00 PMreport abuse

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Jul 02, 2009 -- Cablevision's new tech push may make DVR obsolete

What others are saying