BloggerCon:: "Condoleezza Rice's testimony before the 9-11 commission was watched by millions around the globe, as are many events of worldwide importance that are broadcast live. This is television at it's best. Broadcast infrastructure like that of CNN enables a centralized global distribution of information that well justifies it's cost. The internet cannot compete with this model for live events. Imagine millions of people worldwide firing up a live stream to a video server. Even if the load could be effectively distributed, somebody has to pay the bandwidth bill which increases with each additional viewer. In contrast, television's revenue increases with each additional viewer
Now think of the 6 o'clock newscast. While millions tune in simultaneously to watch the same information at the same moment, and even though the news anchor is presenting (reading) the news live, all the elements were ready prior to the broadcast. The weather report was probably prepared an hour ahead of time. The local human interest piece was edited two days ago and put in the show's rundown because it's a 'slow news day'.
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At this very moment, desktop tools have an entire 'media literate' generation creating audio and video content that is bursting to be free from their harddrives."
Absolutely. Why couldn't I, through my distributed delivery, see Bush's speech the next day, edited, with commentary by some of the thinkers I respect? One day I will, and that day is approaching fast.