It's no secret. I love TV. More specifically, I love TV shows. In reality, I don't watch a whole lot of shows over-the-air. Even when I did, it was usually via DVR, allowing me to schedule my own viewing time. This also had the benefit, with fast-forward of getting an hour of conventional TV done in about 43 minutes. Now? I watch most of my shows online. Sure, some of them I download from iTunes, but purchase is only really an option for shows you want to keep. CSI:Miami? No, I'm not going to need to watch those episodes again. The Office? Yeah, I like to have laughter on standby. So where do I get most of my episodic entertainment? The studio websites, as well as a few joint-ventures began offering most TV shows online over the past year or two. ABC's site claims to be the first to offer full episodes online in a large graphic at their full-episode site. A little odd to hang on so dearly to that claim several years in, but they have the right to boast as you'll see when I break them all down.
Background: ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX all offer their shows on their own sites. NBC and FOX also have a joint venture called Hulu, while it seems CBS now joined the embarrassingly awful Joost. I already had my impressions from frequent use of most of these sites, but I briefly sat down with them to grade them in five categories: Presentation, Video Quality, Content, Player Functionality, and Advertisements. I assigned each a score of 1-5 with 5 being near-perfect implementation, and 1 being, well, Joost-like. Here they are in order of rank:
Joost: 9.5/25
In all fairness, I didn't spend much time to rate Joost with the others. Their presentation, organization and video quality, as well as selection is just so awful that I haven't been able to stand more than a few minutes at their site. I will spend little time discussing them, so below is my cursory grade:
- Presentation: 1/5
- Video Quality: 1.5/5 (No HD)
- Video Player: 1/5
- Advertisements: 3.5/5 (Only 3 per hour-show.)
- Content/Selection: 2.5/5
As you can see, the only bright spot is in Ads; there are fewer ads per hour-long show than any competitor. Of course, this lack of revenue might explain the lack of quality everywhere else.
CBS Innertube: 12/25
I spend a fair amount of time on CBS' oddly-named Innertube. That name conjures images of summer afternoons floating down the creek in old, oversize truck innertubes. Is this what they were going for? I mean, calling a TV a 'tube' is certainly outdating your product online, in the digital realm. Anyways, the shows I frequently view here are The Unit and CSI: Miami & NY. I sampled some other shows just to confirm consistent quality. Ahem, lack of quality. Their overall score is dangerously close to Joost territory, but they do have a few saving graces. Let's get the breakdown.
- Presenation: 2/5. The Innertube site feels like a large bin with lots of videos dumped in for you to rummage through. Hey, you can find some good ones, but it's a pain digging through all these old VHS tapes. First off, the site is white and shades of a tan or gray. This isn't so bad when browsing videos. But once you start viewing, it is a decidedly cheap viewing experience. The one feature that it could gain here is the "Dim Lights" option that nearly everyone else uses. This feature dims the rest of the page to make it easier on your eyes. Also, to find your show's full episodes, or HD content requires additional clicks and actions that do not feel intuitive at all. And HD is entirely separate from SD. So, if you click on the SD video, you'll never know there was an HD option. Don't worry, though. It's no great loss here.
- Video Quality: 2.5/5 HD, 1.5/5 SD. See, there is no such thing as "HD" here. While the color is vivid, the HD option only creates a more crisp experience in the small viewing window. When in Full-screen, a plethora of vertical lines appear that aren't in the SD version. This site used to allow a full-screen experience where the video itself was contained to a decent resolution. Now, it's a tiny window or over-sized pixelation. HD or SD, you really can't enjoy a full-screen experience here.
- Video Player: 2/5. In SD mode, the player's head is large, and unwieldy to seek precisely. The HD version (inexplicably different), provides a thinner, more aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, either version feels a little under-powered or overstated.
- Advertisements: 3.5/5. You'll here this for every online site: Repetitive! Whenever you choose a video, a sponsor is dropped out of a hopper for your experience. More likely than not for every site, you'll see this sponsor, and probably this exact ad each commercial break. Most ads were 15 seconds during my review, but this can change on a case-by-case basis. I counted a typical 4 ads per hour-long show.
- Content/Selection: 2/5. I know I stated earlier that HD isn't anything to shout about here, but it is better than SD. It probably won't matter, though. There is very little HD content to be had for most shows. This is disguised in the same way that the dearth of full episodes is: pile after pile of video clips. When you click on a show, you see a page full of videos. It's exciting! Then, you realize that nearly every single one is a 2-minute clip from an episode. Seriously, other than with shows like Family Guy, who wants to watch clips of their show? Maybe seeing Horatio put on the glasses in CSI: Miami, but this is just a ruse to hide the lack of quantity. CBS treats their CSI franchises most reliably here. You'll probably find, after digging, the three latest episodes. Other shows are hit-or-miss. The Unit is another somewhat reliable option, but not in HD. I didn't uncover any of their half-hour shows in full episode format.
FOX on Demand: 16/25
Straight up, I'll tell you that I usually end up watching FOX's and NBC's shows on Hulu for two reasons: One, the site has both networks, and two, it's a much more straightforward viewing experience. FOX approaches their task well, putting on a decent presentation and a pretty standard experience. They score pretty much in the middle of every category.
- Presentation: 3/5. FOX wisely follows the standard of dressing your site in black, toning down the surrounding graphics to allow your eyes to focus on the show/ads. They provide the "Dim Lights" feature, although since the site is entirely black it does very little. It is a simple, straightforward presentation of the videos. Finding videos can be a little difficult if you choose the wrong way to get to your show. This site could learn a little from the simple layout Hulu uses to get to its shows.
- Video Quality: 3.5/5 HD, 3.5/5 SD. Interestingly, on the episodes that offer HD, I could find little difference when choosing the SD option. This is okay, because the video quality is pretty good. I'd probably peg it somewhere near DVD quality. Note for all these sites, they may offer true HD resolution, but the actual stream of data may not live up to HD standards, resulting in pixels and artifacts. FOX keeps these issues to a minimum. They haven't expanded their HD options until recently, but I'll probably view Bones and Terminator here rather than at Hulu for that reason.
- Video Player: 3/5. The appearance of the player is pretty standard, and the ability to seek through the episodes is good. The key drawback here is that in full-screen mode, you lose any playback controls. Only hitting ESC will bring you out of full-screen and allow you to pause or seek or change the volume.
- Advertisements: 3/5. Here it is again: Repetitive! When in windowed mode (as opposed to full-screen), an ad rides next to your video, cheapening the cinematic feel and bringing it in line with regular web browsing. Also, the video is not presented on the center of the page as a result, but awkwardly to the left. I encountered lots of network ads for other shows, most in the 30-second range. I count an average 5 ads per hour-long show, and 3 per 1/2-hour show. Note that for most shows on most of these sites, the last ad occurs before the credits, so it usually doesn't need to be watched.
- Content/Selection: 3.5/5. Most of FOX's big shows have several recent episodes. As mentioned earlier, my usual views are Bones and Terminator, along with Family Guy and The Simpsons. In keeping with FOX's performance thus far, the selection is really pretty standard, almost exactly what I have come to expect from these sites.
NBC: 16.5/25
NBC is in a virtual tie with FOX. This isn't surprising, considering they are partners in Hulu. It's easy to assume their expectations, and maybe even personnel are similar. Again, most of my NBC shows are viewed at Hulu, and nothing in this review has changed my mind. Specifically, where FOX offers HD, NBC does not.
- Presentation: 3.5/5. Lots of black? Check. Easy to find episodes? Check. This is the main advantage over CBS or even FOX. Episodes are laid out in a very easy-to-find manner. It's easy to sort through by show and view full episodes without sifting through dozens of useless clips. Unlike FOX, videos are centered for viewing.
- Video Quality: 2/5. Unlike FOX, no HD to be found here. Like CBS, these videos are not pleasant for full-screen viewing.
- Video Player: 3.5/5. The player is clean and simple. A nice touch is the front-and-center chapter breakdown, allowing you to jump to specific sections of the video. This same area below the video allows you to switch episodes and even shows without loading new pages. The only key drawback is that there is no button for full-screen. You have to click a drop-down menu and then select full-screen. At least there is a middle option, "Large" here.
- Advertisements: 3.5/5. NBC does accomplish something here. Most of these sites devote any bandwidth to the show, and present advertisements in decidedly crappy video and sound quality. NBC shows these ads in, sometimes, higher resolution than the show itself. (Probably not good for appreciation of the show.) When in Full-screen, the black space in the letterbox shows the sponsor logo and the show's logo. Again, ads are repetitive, and with the standard 5/hour or 3/half-hour.
- Content/Selection: 4/5. NBC gains some ground here. Nearly all current shows carry several of the most recent episodes. And, there are classic shows like The A-Team as well. Where most sites are offering three episodes, NBC seems to usually offer five or so.
Hulu: 17/25.
I use Hulu more than the other sites, and I thought it would score higher than it did. The important thing to note is that it is a very simple site to navigate, and, containing lots of classics as well as new shows from FOX, NBC and other NBC/Universal networks, it's a one-stop shop for lots of shows. That is probably it's greatest value. Here's the breakdown.
- Presentation: 4/5. Click on TV. Usually the new episodes are featured and only require one more click to view. If you like, you can also sort by Network, Genre, or my usual choice, Alphabetical. This is important, because there are lots of shows here. Large, clean graphics and bold links make it a very quick trip to hitting play. The site is white for browsing, but once you're ready, "Dim Lights" grays it out for comfort. By the way, Hulu introduced the "Dim Lights" feature, and it is a killer feature, which makes the absence of it at CBS very conspicuous.
- Video Quality: 2.5/5. Another site with no HD option. Another quirk: all videos play in "Standard 360P format." You have to click a button for "480P." This "HQ" option is laughable. There is no reason at all to watch the 360P; 480 should be default, or at least a global option. Alas, you must click this with every single video, and even 480P is not that great. It's good for windowed viewing. In full-screen it holds up a little better than CBS or NBC's options. They choose to go with fuzzy rather than pixelated, so if you sit back a little from your screen, it's acceptable.
- Video Player: 3/5. Pretty standard options for seeking, volume, full-screen, closed-caption, etc. In windowed mode, the seeker is larger than necessary, degrading the overall appearance of the video. Pause is pretty responsive, although long breaks in viewing will necessitate buffering when you return. No chapter markers here.
- Advertisements: 3/5. Another standard performance. You can expect video quality on par with the show itself. You'll probably see the same ad 5 times per hour show and 3 times per half-hour. When in full-screen, you won't be knocked down to window-view for the ads.
- Content/Selection: 4.5/5. Here, along with presentation is Hulu's coup de grace. With most recent videos from FOX, NBC, FX, USA, TBS, FOX Reality, Comedy Central standards (Daily Show & Colbert Report), and even news/politics material like live-streaming debates, not to mention most other FOX or NBC/Universal properties, Hulu brings a lot to the table. What is lacking in video quality is made up for in sheer volume. You can easily drop in at Hulu and quickly be laughing at Family Guy, then switch over to more, slightly more serious laughs with Monk before landing at a heavy FX show like Sons of Anarchy. (Sadly, no The Shield.) All of this isn't enough to take down the best in the biz, however.
ABC: 21/25.
ABC does it best. Which is unfortunate, because the only shows I really watch on ABC are Pushing Daisies and Boston Legal. One of these will be gone after this season, and the other is constantly on cancellation watch. From the moment you enter ABC's Full-Episode Viewer, you feel the heft and polish of a truly cinematic experience. They back this first impression up with the best quality in video, and a very classy integration of advertisements. Here's why they win.
- Presentation: 5/5. I've talked up the black factor, and ABC keeps things dark and pleasant, However, when viewing each show, the background is tastefully blended into imagery from the show. While watching Boston Legal, the background hints at the seating of a courtroom. Pushing Daisies, well, has daisies. This is just one place where a little extra detail shows that they take online implementation seriously. Shows are presented with a grid-like graphic, allowing quick picks to your favorites. There is no need to dig around through pointless clips: there aren't any. Also, no need to search through HD options. If your show has an HD option (most do), you'll be presented with that choice after clicking play. While viewing, you can drop down episodes on the right. The whole experience is tailored to feel more like one solid player than a webpage with a video player. I'll discuss ad implementation in that category. I generally dislike opening new windows, but making this player a pop-up succeeds in unifying the feel, doing away with address bars and search fields. One pop-up I do not like: when you click to open the player, a standard popup ad does show up.
- Video Quality: 4/5 HD, 4/5 SD. As I mentioned earlier, screen resolution has less to do with video quality online than the bitrate. A nice touch here is that you can see the data rate for your video in the player controls. I go the same rate for HD and SD options, and tellingly, I could hardly tell the difference between them. This is ok, though. The overall quality is fantastic. I am confident in saying it is definitely DVD quality, and sometimes even better. ABC gets closer than anybody to actually providing HD viewing. The colors pop, and digital artifacts are kept to a minimum. ABC does choose to start fast without waiting to buffer, so the first 15 seconds or so will be very low quality, but it will pick up quickly. ABC's player is about the only one that is actually worth viewing in full-screen.
- Video Player: 4/5. As mentioned, the visible data stream information is a nice touch. As is the thumbnail views of chapter selections over the timeline. Seek is quick and useful, and going full-screen is just one click away. Everything here is clean and simple, not interfering with the video at all.
- Advertisements: 4/5. ABC does their advertisers justice. While the better-than-average quality video ad is playing, it is framed by sponsor imagery and information. Many of the ads incorporate a video into lots of other information or interactive forms. The one drawback is that ABC tends to show 6 ads per hour-long show, but one is usually a 15-second ad before your show plays. Another maybe-genius feature: the countdown timer to return to the show is very prominent, and sometimes ends before the ad does. At that point, you must "Click to Continue" back to your show. This can be annoying, but since many ads continue after the timer ends, you feel like you are getting to go back early. Because the quality of the ads is so much better on ABC's site, I have often found myself watching to the end of ad without realizing that I could have already gone back to the episode. ABC succeeds here with polish that keeps ads from being unpleasant to the viewer, and providing a higher impact for the sponsors.
- Content/Selection: 4/5. Another good showing for ABC. Most shows carry approximately four of the most recent episodes, with some carrying episodes from other seasons. The real win here is for Lost fans. Every episode of every season is viewable in HD. That says wonders for their selection, and maybe hints at future availability for other shows. Again, my only lament is that I don't watch most ABC shows. The overall viewing experience here may change that, however.
Final Notes
One thing to note is that Hulu, providing cable fare from FX and others, does require you to register for MA-rated shows. This also applies for their R-rated movie options. Ah, movies. I did not discuss the film options, since the networks only show TV episodes, but Hulu and Joost do offer movies in addition to TV shows. The selection is sometimes okay - probably the same you'd find On Demand from your digital cable provider. Another Joost jab: Joost seems to require registration to view anything. And yes, I do hate their site.
Netflix
Being a Mac user, I have only just recently been able to start using the Watch Instantly feature. (Thanks DRM!) I can't really include it in the above comparisons, because it is a paid site, only available to subscribers. That being said, my impressions after one day of use are excellent. The video quality is near what ABC provides. The player is simple, and the selection is pretty good. I can even view CSI episodes within the week that they air. (One less reason to visit CBS' Innertube!) Another boon here is the complete absence of commercials. And, coming in a few weeks, I'll be able to view these options over my Xbox 360, some of them in alleged HD!
iTunes
Again, I can't really compare iTunes, considering that it is a purchase-only site as far as TV is concerned. I have a pretty large library of TV shows from iTunes, and the video quality is pretty close to DVD. They have just recently added HD options, which are above DVD quality, but I haven't been spending on TV recently. The free episodes they provided in HD were great, and looked gorgeous streamed through my AppleTV to my HD set. I'll probably be picking up The Shield here once the season is complete, and I'll watch it in one extended viewing session over a winter weekend. It's important to note that iTunes also carries a massive number of audio and video podcasts that are completely free.
In conclusion, I spend a lot of time watching TV shows. I love TV. I love the tension and drama of action shows, the pointless laughter of FOX's animated shows, and even the cheap thrills of some of the crime procedurals.(You da man, Horatio!) I do believe we're seeing the waning of over-the-air broadcasts, and I don't mind one bit. I watch TV when I want, and I can read email while you play commercials. Let's all raise our glasses in a toast to the internet.
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