I honestly had no idea my last topic would spin off into even more but so it has. After doing some research on the video iPod's network episodes downloads, I found some news (to me at least) that the advertising revenue losses studios are experiencing are making them start to freak out and consider having viewers pay per television episode in general (similar to on-demand shows). Post-gazette.com has a "Q&A: TV's future" article with some interesting details - also touching on the benefits of using "added extras" as an incentive for increasing interst, i.e. go online to chat about a show, view web-only extra scenes, etc. Even the big networks are looking to offer online downloads the next day, commercial free, for a price.

While I am absolutely for the benefits of "added extras" online, I'm pretty torn about the new direction the television media might be going in general. On one hand, it'll give networks an easier time keeping up with shows that aren't as popular off-the-air and still accessible. On the other, why not buy the DVD if you really want to the show - Best Buy has several aisles dedicated to this. And I can't even imagine how this will end up affecting the cable companies with their already high prices.

In the end, as Steven Spiecher ponders the problems with per episode charges becoming an epidemic, I think -- ok, I hope -- that people will simply become more interested in finding other interests to occupy themselves versus losing themselves in front of the television screen. For everyone's sake... picnic, anyone?