FWIW, I have observed various media companies trying to consolidate their products. Cable companies would try to push bundles including phone, internet, and cable TV all in one (one company, one bill, one service slogan). Qwest (a telco) is trying to sell DirectTV along with DSL and phone bundle, too.
So do I think cable will die off? No.
Telco companies will wither? No.
Network companies? Possibly, but unlikely.
This won't be quite same as "BetaMax v. VHS" because there's lot of companies pushing their preferred method, be it DSL, cable, FO, wireless, or some kind of alien technology so the market will be full with fairly diverse offering. (This doesn't necessarily mean the present monopolies will be broken, as I believe they are created by a different set of factors)
The bottom line? I am not going to wait for a Tivo-killer or a TV-killer. I really don't think TV will be mircosofted.
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