I Want My MTV... PC?

Tsar writes: "MTV Networks is putting their imprimatur on a line of entertainment-oriented PC's to be available early this year. Targeting the college-age crowd, they'll have TV &amp radio tuners, DVD players, remote controls, and 'MTV-specific content.' CNN has this article on CNN's SCI-TECH page, but the original story was posted last Thursday on IDG.net. There's also news of MTV's impending digital music player, which uses DataPlay's 500MB matchbook-sized discs with built-in digital rights denial^H^H^H^H^H^Hmanagement."

Comments

Anyone remember?

[Beltec]

Anyone remember the other theme based PC's and what happend to them? Barbie ring a bell? Ok, so this may have more of a chance, but really, MTV doing a computer?? Besides, I'd rather build my own anyhow, so I guess it really dosn't matter to me :)

I could see this...

[PeeOnYou2]

You have to realize how hardcore a lot of teens are about MTV. Yes, the rest of us can see how lame it really is... but those who are sucked into it eat, sleep, and breathe it. If MTV says something is, IT IS dammit!

I should know.. my little sister would die without it. I think she even has withdrawals sometimes.

I can't wait to see if she wants one of these once they start advertising them all the time.

College age crowd?

[CajunArson]

The last time I saw MTV (and its been a while) it was more geared
towards teenie boppers than college students

Maybe they are hoping a whole bunch of stupid freshman with
rich parents will buy? Or is this more for the N'sync/Brittney Spheres crowd?

Re:College age crowd?

[nomadic]

College students these days ARE teeny boppers. I swear, most of them seem to see college as just an extension of high school...

Re:Say it ain't so?

[demaria]

"Remember those annoying commercials with the flashing colors and slow, loud beat?"

You've just described....every MTV commercial, ever. :)

Although failure the first time around doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't try again, after learning which mistakes you made in the past.

Whine anyone?

[ImaLamer]

I know this will be taken as a troll, or flame-bait. But here I go.

Everyone has put down MTV, the MTV computer idea, and so much more. It goes to show one thing:

Computer geeks don't get pop culture

Someone above posted:
Even if you are a college student, would you want your computer to come from a channel that headlines a show where people pierce their asses? Not me, I just don't see this idea being sucessful.

I guess that person doesn't realize that many, many people watch that show [Jackass]. MTV is way more than just a shiny things type of network. It's young 'veejays' are usually working 100 times harder behind the scenes. It's movie awards, while a comedy show, has really challanged the Oscars by giving awards to movies that the majority actually like. The Matrix would be a good example. No doubt that movie was a hit, but no nod from the academy.

If anyone is closer to what is on the minds of the public [from age 11-2?] than MTV, where are they? No doubt their success is proof.

Will this venture work? Maybe not. But if they got these machines hooked up to a broadband connection - it could be another MTV.

Remember, music artists spend millions to put their music on TV when they receive no immediate reward. Computers offer much more than TV.

I think free music would be one big draw. And even without DRM it would keep some piracy at bay. Think a thousand mp3 streams at your finger tips. MTV has the money and power to put that together.

Most college students I know are downloading mp3s and using P2P just to have something to listen to.

If they don't try to make this a computer, and more of an appliance that plays music, movies and videos... it could work.

Just something to think about.

Re:Whine anyone?

[Maul]

Your post makes sense, except that many college
students are beyond the "do whatever MTV tells me"
mentality. Of course, maybe I'm wrong since I only
hang out with other CS people.

A question I have that is hard to answer:

Does MTV merely understand teen pop culture well,
or are they part of a process that creates it?
Or is it a bit of both?

Re:Whine anyone?

[ImaLamer]

I think it's a bit of both. [reminder: NOT A FAN BOY]

The people who run MTV are sometimes the same people you see on screen. During the 80's and 90's MTV was mostly run by people who provided for an older audience. The people who ran MTV were young, 20's, and they were trying to put on an adult show. Not for older adults or people looking for class, but they were giving people what they wanted, and influencing pop-culture their own way.

Now I think we are seeing a shift to trying to understand and create {pop} culture as well. MTV doesn't do bad at providing adult programming as well. But most of what we see is adults and young adults trying to show kids culture. They touch on issues, but 9-5 it's mostly an adult showing kids groups or groups for kids. By kids, I mean teenagers - younger than the people who we are talking about now.

MTV though does have it's strong points. Wrestling, IMHO, is a bad move. But Jackass, and the Real World are two college age staple programs. These shows do appeal to many college age, 'hip', `poppy', type of kids.

This product could catch on and because of that bring back that 18-24 year old audience. They seem to be slipping when it comes to music videos.

But MTV2 seems to provide a better range of more complex music and music styles. If this thing could stream MTV2, that could be a hit. I know more people in college, living on campus, that have computers [and no cable] than cable tv.

Depends on the specs and functions. If it works well, and provides a 'cool' set of tools - it could take off.

Will MTV start a revolution in music distribution? Maybe. Something to think about again. They depend on it, as well as the artists depend on MTV.

A sane DRM system and internet distribution channel could sure help a whole bunch of us. MTV provides a jukebox at a certain cost, and sell [basically] singles to burn. You burn at home - the machine is the key. With the computer they provide the appliance and ease of use. Combine that with a library of music, Voila.

If it becomes easier than P2P and the many steps in between - the appliance becomes your computer and personal CD creation station. Normal people would just get this because ease of use and features. It's like a Tivo for music. I guess.

Just a thought.