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TV IN YOUR POCKET
December 9, 2005
When it comes to watching TV, I'm all about going bigger. The 29-inch Sony that sits in my living room is starting to look woeful compared to the 50 and 60-inch behemoths I hear calling my name every time I step foot into a Best Buy. One of these days I'm going to convince the missus to purchase one of those. (What? You think I can afford a new 50-incher on a writer's salary? Ha!)
Yep, as far as I'm concerned, the larger that screen beaming "Lost" into my house, the better. Puzzling to me, however, is that a fair amount of TV watchers are going in the opposite direction. And if Apple has their way, a sizable audience will soon be watching their favorite shows on a screen no bigger than the palm of their hand.
I'm talking about the new Video iPod, the latest incarnation of that must-have high-tech accessory that stores a few thousand of your favorite songs and now allows you to watch TV on the go. When the device debuted in October, Apple announced a deal with ABC to make episodes of several of the network's hit shows, including "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives," available for the new iPod through Apple's online music site - iTunes. Now NBC has joined in the portable fun. It was revealed this week that a huge chunk of NBC Universal programming from the 1950s up to the present will be available to download for the price of $1.99 an episode. Among the content for sale will be episodes of "Dragnet," "Monk," "Law & Order," and the new version of "Battlestar Galactica."
The technology is fascinating, and I could talk for hours about how selling shows a la carte, one episode at a time, is the future of the industry. But when it comes to watching TV on an iPod - I must admit I just don't get it.
Now, I can understand downloading a particularly funny sketch from last night's "Late Night with Conan O' Brien" (something that will be possible under the NBC-Apple deal) to show a buddy during lunch break at work. But that's about as far as I go. In the last decade, TV has rapidly approached theatrical films in terms of quality of presentation. Many dramas are broadcast widescreen. More and more shows are offered in high definition, featuring 5.1 Dolby Digital surround soundtracks. Not to mention the high production values and lush cinematography on display with a show like "Lost" or "Rome." Who in their right mind would want to ruin the experience, to sully the epic storytelling, by watching on a 2.5-inch screen while on the subway?
I tell you, some people just have no appreciation for the joy of being a true couch potato a couple of times a week. Seems to me there's not much better than snuggling up on the sofa with a nice blanket, a loved one, and the newest "Veronica Mars." For others, though, life must move too fast, and the only way to fit in TV is to take it with them to the gym. Somewhere Rod Serling is probably rolling his eyes.
Me? I'll be fine at home. And to the iPod fans, if you want to slowly lose your eyesight while squinting to see last week's episode of "The Office," by all means. Just don't do it while you're driving. I don't want you smashing into me when I'm on my way to Best Buy.
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