REALITY OF VIRTUAL

MAT-SU — Like Neo, the main character in the techie cult hit “Matrix” movie trilogy, Americans are following the white rabbit of the Internet to scratch their entertainment itch.

For the first time, Americans say that if they had to choose between the Internet or television, they’d pick the Internet. A recent study released by Arbitron and Edison Research shows that 49 percent of respondents would choose Internet, 48 percent would pick television and 3 percent were undecided. Although the difference is a narrow 1 percent between the mediums, it’s a stark difference from 2001, when 72 percent of consumers who were asked the same question chose television.

Even the Mat-Su Valley is following the national trend.

Gabe Pierce is manager of the Wasilla Radio Shack store. A traditional outlet for all things electronic, Radio Shack made its reputation selling high quality televisions and stereo systems. Now, those mainstays are tapering off, Pierce said.

“We sell more computer stuff here than we do televisions,” he said. “We don’t sell very many televisions anymore. Well, we do here and there. On the other hand, we do sell a lot of accessories (for televisions) like antennas.”

One way television manufacturers are addressing the Internet explosion is with the if-you-can’t-beat-them, join-them method, Pierce said. Along with flat-screen and high definition technology, many high-end televisions are also including Internet capabilities.

It’s a reaction Amos White of Wasilla thinks is a direct response to the Internet, which has boomed with social networking sites like Facebook and video sharing like YouTube. White said he prefers the Internet, although he enjoys his television for watching movies (which he orders online through NetFlix).

“I like the Internet,” he said. “It’s more informational. I can’t access things on the television like I can on the Internet.”

Others don’t choose, surfing the Internet while watching television. The New York Times recently interviewed Matthew O’Grady, a researcher for the Nielsen ratings service, who reports that in December 2009, people spent an average of 3.5 hours a day both watching television and using the Internet. That’s an increase of almost an hour from the same time in 2008, where people spent 2.6 hours a day watching both.

Wasilla resident Kayla McGraw was at The Digital Cup Internet café Thursday afternoon playing World of Warcraft, an online video game. Gaming services like World of Warcraft, which has about 11.5 million monthly subscribers worldwide, have contributed to people spending more time online and less time watching television.

Although McGraw aspires to be a filmmaker, she said her preference “would be the Internet, because you can still watch plenty of videos online. It’s easier to share things, like with YouTube, and it’s really good for networking.”

She uses Facebook, “to stay in contact with people,” and said that many of the popular shows aired on television can also be viewed on the Internet. “That’s probably why people would choose it more than TV.”

That television programming is being made available online is another factor in its popularity as an entertainment venue, said Paul Montanez of Wasilla. Although he acknowledges the Internet is booming, he still prefers television.

“If I had to choose, I would probably give up the Internet,” he said. “It’s got a lot of stuff on there that doesn’t need to be on there. Sure, it’s fun to look around, but for as much good, there is as much bad.”

Live sports is one reason he likes television over the Internet, but his favorite is the Comedy Central channel. While Montanez prefers Comedy Central on his television, the channel’s popular animated series “South Park” has been one of the leaders in broadcasting online. All episodes from the show’s 14 seasons can be viewed free online.

Coupled with other sharing sites like Skype and TVShack, the migration from television to the Internet may just be many people watching the same entertainment over a different delivery vehicle, said Chance Brinker.

Brinker is a Wasilla student who takes correspondence courses over the Internet. He prefers it to traditional television because “that’s a direct link to the news I’d like to see. I can filter through the crap myself. … It’s the same as people sitting down and watching TV, I guess.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.