In the 500 channel universe, there are going to be fewer opportunities for people to come together though the power of television. Channels now are so focused on a particular topic, and the choices are so vast, that further audience fragmentation is the inevitable result. This can be good many ways. We will get to watch what we want, when we want to. User-created media will create a broader media landscape. The risk of putting out a product will be small enough that people can take chances with their product that aren’t currently done on television. The MySpace Generation will be much more empowered to create their own products, rather than rely on media gatekeepers to tell them what to watch.

This creates a problem for traditional television networks that are used to setting the schedule. Therefore the value of things that people want to see live, and feel a connection to will rise. Local programming will once again become valuable if we can get large network entertainment directly from the source. The only communal experience that will be left will be the sporting event.

Two things make the sporting event the perfect television product for the mass audience.

1. We want to see it as it’s happening (makes it DVR-proof)
2. We want to cheer for the home team (makes it local)

That’s not to say that sporting events won’t be distributed directly by the leagues through the internet in the future (or today, as is the case with MLB.TV), but the ritual of coming home and turning on the game will be with us as long as there’s a local team to root for.