Clicker CEO Jim Lanzone, Busting Internet TV Myths

Is the future of “internet TV” those little boxes that are appearing everywhere? No, says Clicker CEO Jim Lanzone, who also busted a number of other net-to-TV myths, from his perspective.

Lanzone gave a short address at the Web 2.0 Summit today. He oversees Clicker, which is a guide to television, movie and select other video content that’s available online. Fair to say, he’s been watching the space closely. And from his perspective, many people who are wondering where things may be going are getting it wrong.

Why? Enter his “You know you’re old if” points, as they pertain to internet TV. Below, his points that I live blogged during his talk.

1) You know you’re old, if you think you need a box to watch internet TV

All the early adopters of internet TV have been going online or plugging their computers in to their TVs. It makes sense. I have iTunes on my OS. Why do I need to route through this box to get back to my computer. I should just route through my computer.

Jim cited Netflix CEO Reed Hastings clip shows talking in November 2008 about how there’s an easier way of watching TV via the web — using your computer. Using your computer is TV on the web, Hastings said. I’ll add a clip of his video later, when I find it.

2) You know you’re old if you think you’ll need apps to watch internet TV

With phones, we needed apps, bandwidth sucked, we didn’t have space to move a mouse around. But we don’t use apps on our laptops. We use our browser and bookmarks. The same thing will happen here, it’s going to be the open web. But it also doesn’t matter, apps versus browsers, because browsers and apps are going to merge.

3) You know you’re old if you want to watch TV on a TV

Of those under 35, fewer than 50% watch TV on a real TV. Instead, what they’re doing is watching it portably, privately.

Lanzone shows a funny clip from Modern Family where the father (sorry, I don’t watch the show, even on my real TV — but I might start) is trying to show his daughter how to use the TV remote.

“Dad this is stupid I watch TV on my computer, why do I have to learn this?,” she complains. “Because your mom doesn’t think you can,” he responds. “Nobody can!,” she exclaims.

Funny stuff — and true if you start thinking about someone who grew up watching TV on a computer.

4) You know you’re old if you want to watch TV with other people [in person]

It’s less of this generation of having Melrose Place parties and more watching Glee and then IMing or Facebooking or Tweeting.

5) If you watch more than 36 hours of TV a week

The younger generation thinks they have infinite choices but ironically watch less

6) You think internet TV is amateur hour

This is what Steve Jobs said in last Apple earnings call. But in the past year,  85% of all broadcasted programming was online, and for free, at some point. The “web originals” or web video content is really growing up.

I don’t know if I’d write the boxes off entirely, but yep, lots of wisdom and perspective in Lanzone’s remarks. And for more about those boxes (and issues they may have), see some of our articles below:

• Life With Google TV: First Day Review & Impressions
• Programming Your DVR Made Easy: Google TV, Dish & The Logitech Revue
• Boxee Box: First Day Review & Impressions
• Apple TV: First Day Review & Impressions
• Roku: First Day Review & Impressions
• Roku + Hulu Plus = Pretty Awesome
• Internet-To-TV Players Compared: Roku, Apple TV, Boxee & Google TV

Also see our Internet-To-TV page for further stories that will come.