Internet TV in Japan, Tradional TV going to the Dogs

Death knell for television as we know it

New Internet television technology in Japan could make traditional real-time broadcasting obsolete

The Age
Monday, May 26, 2008

By Justin Norrie

Japanese television technology that will give viewers access to high-speed broadcasts over the internet could render conventional television obsolete and transform the media landscape within years, analysts have predicted.

The country's electronics and telecommunications industries are developing a technological standard for a new "internet television" set, which will let users browse websites and watch streaming programs at the touch of a remote control.

Japanese media reports say the new television, which is likely to run on the open source Linux operating system rather than Microsoft Windows to save boot-up time, could be on sale locally by next March.

The TV Portal Service Corp syndicate, comprising Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba, is expected to announce the standard as early as next month. With the backing of telecommunications giant NTT, it will lobby the International Telecommunications Union to adopt it for global use.

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