We talk:

• Ten appoint a News Director.
• Foxtel announce new FX channel.
• Nine launch a new news bulletin exclusively for iPad.
• Job cuts at the BBC.
• Netflix cut the Qwikster brand loose.
• The Simpsons get renewed.

On this show from yore, Dan, Dennis, and Simon discuss:

• A then-new technological innovation called an iPad.
• The lads talk to Julian Morrow from the Chaser about their new iPhone app.
• And much, much more.

Straight up, it is worth noting that Televised Revolution does not have an iPad. We’re desperately hungering for one so that we can fully examine the potential it has as a television-like evolutionary device. Expect a more concise article once we’ve been able to get our hands on one.

There has been a lot of conjecture online about the value of the iPad as a computer. Critics point out that it lacks the processing power, memory size, USB ports, and flexibility that a PC or laptop generally provides. They’re a little off the mark as they’re simply projecting what they’d like from a tablet computer. The iPad was never designed to compete in that market. But for those whose primarily computer use is for web browsing, playing media, email, and some light word processing, this is an ideal functional unit. Also, it’s worth noting that content-wise, the iPad is simply embracing cloud computing.

With content the emphasis on the iPad, it transforms the device in peoples hands from being a computer into being a portable screen. Television, as we know it, is moving away from being a broadcast medium and is something you’re now able to access across multiple platforms. Multiple screens.

With the iPad restricted by the fact it can’t run more than one Application at once, it means that the device will have an audience who is far more captive viewing the screen. Viewers holding the iPad will be a whole lot less inclined to multitask as they would watching a traditional TV screen. Reading a magazine and holding an iPad is going to be no easy feat. This means longer user engagement with the screen – surely this is something of considerable interest to advertisers.

While the iTunes store is an obvious place that people will be sourcing their TV content from, the really exciting developments are possible by way of the Applications one will be able to install on the iPad.

The iPad is going on sale today in the US with news on content distributors plans now being reported upon. Of interest:

*Disney have announced the ABC Player, which will stream shows they air on their ABC network in the US, as well as a selection of Disney films and product. Disney Online will also have an iPad friendly version, streaming full episodes of their kids programming. Undoubtably, this won’t be available, but it does show the potential for the catch up services from Channels 7, 9, and 10. Channel 9 are believed to be relaunching their catch-up TV service in coming months, so hopefully they’ll be forward-thinking enough to develop an iPad application to provide access. It’s safe to assume that the ABC iView service will be iPad compatible sooner than later.

*NBC are prohibiting streaming of their shows through the iPad, which some believe may be a sign that they are planning to move to a subscription service.

*Hulu, still unavailable (legally) in Australia, is said to be developing a subscription iPad-based service.

*Pay television station Ovation was recently dumped from Foxtel, in favour of new arts channel Stvdio. It will return to Foxtel as a premium add-on service costing $9.95 per month. Streaming opportunities via iPad applications exist for services like Ovation are plentiful for expanding their audience. Al Jazeera (English), for example, have an iPhone application available for free that allows local viewers to access their service. This channel is currently not provided on Foxtel. The iPad now provides an opportunity for similarly afflicted services to control their own carriage.

With internet delivery and audiences now captive for longer periods of time (compared to viewing a television screen), the iPad seems to be a dream platform for advertisers. Targeted messages combined with an audience who are focussed directly on the message. Yet, it also seems to be with this that television distributors are finally seeing the opportunity to monetize their service online through subscription models. With micro-payment opportunities available, the iPad may be the platform that finally gets television audiences paying for content.

Of course, the iPad isn’t for everyone:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjPqlfQtd4&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]