People have been talking about convergence of the Internet and TV for many years.
The transition is beginning to happen.
The big boys are on the move. Google has taken another shot at Google TV. And according to a New York Times report, the Apple-dedicated TV is an inevitability–a matter of if, not when.
This conversation isn’t about putting TV shows on laptops or putting websites on TV’s. It is about shifting media consumption from the computer to the living room.
Today, new boxes are coming on the market that can connect to the open Internet. The experience is more like your computer than your TV.
Any video content that you can get on the web you can get on your TV, plus your ordinary TV channels.
What does this mean for the gospel?
When (not if) the Internet and TV converge on your TV, envision a myriad of new national and regionals channels of high quality online video gospel content available for viewing on your home “big screen.”
The experience
Christian media networks, churches, production companies, ministries and individuals will be working together to figure out how to use the convergence technologies.
Content will be formatted to look better on whatever size screen the person happens to be using: TV, PC, tablets, mobile devices. Websites will be repurposed to look better on TV. Websites will be more navigational.
Recommended viewing will become a core part of the experience. I’ll say to you that I saw a fantastic sermon by Craig Groeschel on MoodyTV last night. You will watch it tonight or tomorrow night.
Social features such as live chat and conference calling will be integrated into the viewing experience. There will be a Twitter feed on the screen.
People will be able to engage in commentary, annotation, and conversation about the video and the message, while connected with friends in a different place watching the same video stream.
The big screen will be where “the pastor talks,” and the little screen in your lap will be where you will talk with others about the message. The video stream provides the common reference point for spiritual discussion.
The preparation
Put on your shoes so that you are prepared to spread the Good News that gives peace. Ephesians 6:15
This will be an entirely new way of thinking for Christian content providers and distribution networks. The opportunity is to enable much more engagement with the video and the gospel messages being delivered.
It will require invention and creativity. Internet TV will be cheaper to do and it will be more interactive. But programming will need to change to embrace the converged technologies.
Only a small number of mostly large churches and ministries have been able to produce gospel programming for traditional TV channels.
When TV can access content on the Internet, a much larger number of pastors, creative content producers and storytellers of all sizes will be able to bring professionally produced gospel video programming into the living room.
In the converged media world, there will be an enormous haystack of content and applications to sift through. Syndicators and curators will need to work hand-in-hand with content providers to help establish a foothold for new Christian integrated media portals, and to help guide people to the right messages at the right time.
For Christians, at its core, Internet TV is about bringing interactive video gospel messages into the mainstream. The barriers to distributing video gospel messages and Christian information are coming down.
The future will favor those who prepare now.