2009, while marked by the economic downturn, ended up being a year of growth for the digital media and technology industry. According to Nielsen data, there was an increase in time spent watching television, going on the computer, and using mobile devices. Even with consumer spending down, customers were still drawn to the new technology options available. The following are highlights from the year by category:
Television
• High Definition TV- HD Technology and the addition of HD programming, added high quality and more content to television viewers. HD TV’s also became more affordable.
• DVR- More consumers are turning to DVR to record their favorite shows so they can watch what they want, when they want. This has lead to time-shifted viewing as consumers are not always watching their favorite programs while they are airing.
• Increased number of channels and video-on-demand content- The increase in channels and on-demand content has led to an overall growth in TV viewing.
Internet
• Larger Bandwidth- With more people using broadband internet connections, users are able to receive richer content without sacrificing their experience.
• Accessibility and Availability- More than 40% of online video is viewed at the workplace. With rich media, streaming media, and consumer generated media via social media channels, consumers are becoming deeply engaged and spending more time online.
Mobile Devices
• The Device Phenomenon- iPhones, Blackberries, smartphones, and Droids are leading the growth of mobile media consumption and are blurring the lines between phone and PC.
• Infrastructure Upgrades- 3G networks are now the norm and 4G networks are being rolled out in order to allow for faster download speeds.
• New and Immediate Content- For a nominal fee, TV programming is now available on cell phones. In addition, smartphones allow the user to share content or deliver content wherever they want.
Overall, video consumption increased and accessibility and immediacy has become more important as the digital media and technology industry expands. If 2009 was any indication, 2010 should bring significant change and growth as well.
Which of the digital media technologies could you not have lived without this year? What new technology would you like to see come out within the next 5 years?
