The Future of TV: How Do Networks Plan to Stay Competitive?

Today's technology lets consumers watch shows without a cable connection or even a television. What's next for broadcast networks, cable providers and their places in the media market? Hari Sreenivasan of PBS Newshour talks to Brian Roberts of Comcast about staying competitive and the legal battles with companies who stream TV for free.

Brian Roberts expressed during the interview that cable companies have historically offered bundled packages to its customers, but that the advent of streaming options have made that model expensive. “And if there's a way to say to some of our customers, you don't have to take everything, here's a different package, we are trying to do that. We have been experimenting with that. Other companies are as well,” Roberts said. Asked to elaborate, Roberts mentioned a few things that he thinks will come next in television, including cheaper devices, such as tablets, “whether it's eyeglasses or watches or a little bit of everything.” He said his company is wagering on being a part of broadband and Wi-Fi, as well as establishing wireless and content relationships to imbed itself into as many parts of that changing landscape as possible. He added that a lot of those choices will not involve networks. Concerning the issue of government oversight, he told Sreenivasan, “I don't think regulation is the answer and the government setting standards. I think it's a race to innovate.”