The Future on TV

[Commentary] This may not be the year America cuts the cable cord and drops its subscription to pay TV. But it will likely be a year of sublime creative destruction in the home-video entertainment business. Comcast's proposed acquisition of NBC has elicited the usual panic from the usual worrywarts wondering who will possibly be able to compete with the new cable-cum-programming giant. A better question is: Who won't? Dozens of players (including retailers and gadget makers) are entering what's called the "over the top" TV market, with nothing to lose and every reason to innovate in competition with each other. The toughest hurdle has been connecting the television to a potentially bottomless supply of Internet programming in a way not daunting to the average viewer. Coming this year are TVs with direct Internet connections, which could change things fast. Of note is Best Buy's recent announcement that every Web-connected TV it sells will soon come with a subscription to a Best Buy library of entertainment. Sony has similar plans. Think Wal-Mart, Blockbuster and Disney won't be in the hunt?