The Future of Television

Something new is coming to television: video on demand, video games, interactive shopping and a dazzling array of entertainment and informational services that viewers control from their own homes. The nation's cable systems and local telephone companies are in a high- stakes race to deliver this video cornucopia within the next few years. The country's second largest cable operator, Time Warner Cable, launched its first commercial interactive television service this month in Orlando, Fla. Meanwhile, most of the big regional phone companies are waiting for approval to build new video networks to offer “video dial tone” service for homes and businesses. Some industry experts, however, question whether customers will buy the new services, while public interest groups fear the costs may be passed on to local telephone customers.