The Invisible, Mature Interactive Television Market

Although it gets no attention from media scholars, there is a very large interactive television and Internet service provider industry that has quietly been upgrading hotel rooms to the most advanced Internet and iTV services available. This is important because:

• This industry already has the research on how people use iTV in their rooms.
  
• This industry has been innovative in its service offerings.
  
• This industry may introduce new interactive television services including DVR or DVR-like functionality for the first time to potential adopters who have not yet experienced them.
  
• Many people were introduced to HBO through their stay in a motel room.
  

There has been some recent consolidation in this industry leaving LodgeNet in a powerful position as it acquired OnCommand in December.