TV killed radio, so will digital video kill TV? Absolutely, say some market experts … and they are predicting a relatively quick death – by 2020.

As you may expect, YouTube is one of the standard bearers of this expectation. In a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show, YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl said, “Digital video will overtake television to become the single largest way people spend their free time before the end of this decade.”

Shifting trends and the rise in mobile viewing seem to favor Kyncl’s vision of the near future. YouTube made possible the rise of performers like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, and seems to be paving the way for up and coming rapper Tyler Cassidy (aka Froggy Fresh), and this changed the music industry every bit as dramatically as iTunes.

Likewise, digital content from the best streaming service or Netflix or Amazon are becoming more popular. YouTube recently released a premium service that will begin offering unique content, and you can bet others will soon be making the switch. Streaming services are often accessed using things like an Android TV box which is rapidly becoming the preferred choice over cable; to see such devices available on the market, check out these reviews from Coolest Gadgets.

From a PR perspective, TV needs to re-evaluate what it offers consumers, and how those consumers view those offerings. The days when choices were either cable or broadcast are long gone. Most people look at cable as yesterday’s tech and are hard at work trying to cut the cord and go completely digital streaming.

As more original programming begins to crowd the movie and TV programming already available on streaming services, expect a generation to come up who never even knew you could watch something other than streaming video. They will look at cable the same way millennial’s think about rabbit ears. By then, of course, we will be having this conversation about virtual reality.

So, what can cable do to keep up?

First, they need to capture and hold their current audience. There are two entire generations out there who don’t yet stream anything. And they watch a lot of TV. Keeping them hooked with a solid mix of good new programming as well as the right amount of nostalgia should protect that market block for the near future.

Now TV needs to go after the folks on the fence. Currently, many younger households who would cut the cord don’t for one reason: live sports. TVs top cash cow is also its current saving grace. As long as live sports – particularly college football – remain only available with a cable subscription, TV will be a force to reckon with. But, if the streaming services can do with ESPN and Fox what they did with HBO, TV will be in serious trouble.

This might be the year streaming reaches critical mass. Will be interesting to watch.

 

Read more from Ronn Torossian:

Ronn Torossian on Forbes
Ronn Torossian on SoundCloud
Ronn Torossian on LinkedIn
Ronn Torossian’s Professional Profile on Muck Rack
Ronn Torossian on Business Insider

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Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the United States. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company's growth and vision, with the agency earning accolades including being named a Top 50 Global PR Agency by PRovoke Media, a top three NYC PR agency by O'Dwyers, one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces and being awarded multiple American Business Awards, including a Stevie Award for PR Agency of the Year. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America's most prolific and well-respected public relations executives. Throughout his career he has advised leading and high-growth businesses, organizations, leaders and boards across corporate, technology and consumer industries. Torossian is known as one of the country's foremost experts on crisis communications. He has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly in the media and has authored two editions of his book, "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations," which is an industry best-seller. Torossian's strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, a Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, Metropolitan Magazine's Most Influential New Yorker, and a recipient of Crain's New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Outside of 5W, Torossian serves as a business advisor to and investor in multiple early stage businesses across the media, B2B and B2C landscape. Torossian is the proud father of two daughters. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of multiple not for profit organizations.