So where to from here? Will the internet remain the clunky, PC-based experience it’s always been, or will it become more ‘Grandma friendly’ and integrate seamlessly into our living rooms? Well … yes.

We’re seeing the first signs of Youtube integrated televisions now and home video consoles are doing their best to use the power of the internet to deliver multiplayer gaming and on-demand movies. But what does this mean to the average business owner and how can they get in on the action? It’s a little soon in the evolution process but it is inevitable that within the next few years we’ll start seeing what I call ‘true digital’ TV: on-demand television that is viewed using a menu system (kind of like ninemsn.com.au) with your TV’s remote control. This will be a completely on-line experience that will enable seamless integration between traditional TV viewing and the internet.

For instance, if you choose to watch a sports program, a targeted advertisement for Adidas might be displayed featuring a live link to a website – to a local business’s website - which will be instantly viewable at home on TV. The program will pause while you browse the website (and possibly email an enquiry) and will resume when you’re done shopping.

This will finally realize the potential for every business, great or small to be centre stage in everyone’s living room, at the click of a button… The commercial television stations must be running scared.