Digital Cinema

In this scenario, the internet/mobile TV industry is controlled by a small number of companies who supply copyrighted high-quality content that users have to pay for. Copyrighted content will become the norm for internet television and mobile television.

2008: A couple of new laws have been passed, making it illegal to download music and movies from unofficial sources. As IPTV/mobile TV is further developed, new laws are also being made to prevent the growth of illegal content. The internet television market is in its early stages and is starting to grow, now that it’s easier to win legal procedures against illegal content providers.

2009: DRM is now fully implemented in online videos and becomes required by law in the USA. As a result, copyrighted videos on Youtube now require a small fee (less than a dollar) in order to be watched. The quality of the videos will improve a lot, since it has become a persuasion factor for Youtube’s paying customers. Users can still upload their own videos however. These are still free and not copyrighted. P2P content providers are getting sued out of existence. Low-quality content will remain free.

2010: Broadband coverage improves due to lower prices, and the government also subsidizes wireless internet for cities so that it’s publically available for everyone on the streets and in parks. The financial crisis in the US has worsened the global economy. In addition, all countries have passed new environmental laws resulting in higher pollution tax, making it so that only the biggest IT and television broadcasting companies survive (Google, Microsoft, BBC, CNN etc.). Joint ventures between these companies will improve the coverage and quality of IPTV significantly. They will set up websites similar to Youtube, with only copyrighted content, such as movies, available. Creating an account on those websites will not be free. The price will drop after awhile because of competition.

2011: