Are webisodes the future of TV?

[Steedeel]

I have been thinking more and more about this as of late. With the popularity of Youtube and Netflix thinking about a 5 minute segment on their mobile site containing clips from tv shows and movies. I wonder how long it wil be before we get 5-10 minute webisodes of original content and in turn could that threaten the traditional tv episodes of 1 hour/30 minutes length? In turn, could this affect feature films as more and more of the next generation can't be bothered to sit through a feature length movie? So rather than films and TV series in the distant future, will we have bite size chunks of entertainment from the likes of Netflix, Amazon etc.. Please discuss. Admittedly, millions of people love movies and TV but when those people die out are things changed forever? Personally, a life without films or tv series (traditional length) sound pretty horrific.

[SethRex]

I think that there are gonna be many different ways to show entertainment. Webisodes are definitely one of the many ways to get entertainment out to the masses. Theatrical releases, Television, and Webisodes can only compliment each other like when The Walking Dead had those webisodes that helped tell stories that expanded on the universe. Imagine a franchise that spanned not only TV but Movies and even Webisodes to tell a broad story that's more than just a single entity.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by SethRex

I think that there are gonna be many different ways to show entertainment. Webisodes are definitely one of the many ways to get entertainment out to the masses. Theatrical releases, Television, and Webisodes can only compliment each other like when The Walking Dead had those webisodes that helped tell stories that expanded on the universe. Imagine a franchise that spanned not only TV but Movies and even Webisodes to tell a broad story that's more than just a single entity.

So you see regular movies and episodic tv sticking around? Good, webisodes are fine for mobile, but they don't lend themselves to lean back tv viewing.

[Steedeel]

Just checked out a few and they are mostly amateur crap Imo. Plus they have credits after like, 5 minutes! That would be infuriating trying to watch several 5 minute mini episodes.

[Carlanga]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So you see regular movies and episodic tv sticking around? Good, webisodes are fine for mobile, but they don't lend themselves to lean back tv viewing.

I see webisodes as the future, but not the short 5 mins ones, but the full TV show on the web. THe Legend of Korra has moved to only web episodes instead of at regular TV due to the much higher demand on the web than on tv for it.

I think it will be great, kill the middleman cable companies and give us straight from the source for free and they make money from ads to a much bigger crowd since now all ads will come from them and not the cable companies, win-win IMO

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Carlanga

I see webisodes as the future, but not the short 5 mins ones, but the full TV show on the web. THe Legend of Korra has moved to only web episodes instead of at regular TV due to the much higher demand on the web than on tv for it.

I think it will be great, kill the middleman cable companies and give us straight from the source for free and they make money from ads to a much bigger crowd since now all ads will come from them and not the cable companies, win-win IMO

Ads? No thanks. Would rather pay a subscription, can't bear ads now never mind the future with product placement, targeted ads etc..

[Carlanga]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Ads? No thanks. Would rather pay a subscription, can't bear ads now never mind the future with product placement, targeted ads etc..

Those are two different products; subs sans commercials will continue to exist even if tv moves to the web. Regular tv has ads and full length episodes on the web have ads (most of the time you can skip them anyway w adblock) there is no change on that, that is how they make their money.