Originally Posted by weetomuncher:
“+1s can be handy for live viewing but with the large capacity recording devices such as Tivo, they're becoming less relevant. Expanded TV on demand services will probably kill +1s eventually as they won't be needed at all.
I get a little annoyed when the likes of Virgin and Sky mention '8 new channels' when six of them are +1s as it basically means '2 new channels with 6 repeats of what you didn't watch an hour ago' and many of them are really irrelevant to be honest.
Sometimes 'live' channels are being taken off to make space for +1s of bigger channels and that can be a real pain. +1s are often just a cheap excuse to show repeats and not new programming.
I'm actually surprised that the number of channels broadcasting is still increasing and that lesser channels belonging to bigger networks aren't being absorbed into other channels or becoming on demand portals instead.
Look at the amount of Discovery channels for example. I think it would make far more sense to have less linear channels and a higher level of on demand content. That way the bigger shows have clear showing times while the lesser shows are available whenever viewers want them.”
Although we have on demand and a PVR that can record three shows at the same time, I still find I have unresolvable clashes sometimes, particularly around 9 - 11pm, and so I have to work out how to record all of those programmes at different times. The worst case was where I had six programmes all on at the same time at 9pm and three already set for 10pm.
So I do welcome having plenty of timeshift channels, they are very handy.
If we get to a stage where all programmes shown get put on the on demand system for about 12 months, then I will agree we don't need timeshift channels. I would mention that my TIVO is currently 75% full, but sometimes it goes up to 95%. That's because I record programmes just for me (science and other nerdy stuff), my wife (lifestyle), both of us (dramas and talk shows) and the grandkids (comedy and kids stuff). We also never watch anything live, everything, including the news is viewed from the recordings or on demand.
I don't understand the continual complaints about the +1 channels - nobody has to watch them if they don't want to and they are not preventing other channels from being launched (which I think remains a common misconception).
I do agree that in the longer term, linear TV channels will reduce; the only question is to what level? While people still cling to the old ways of watching TV and sit through all those ads, it will continue to pay the broadcasters to show them.
Personally, the future I see is of all our content being provided on demand or streamed.