While there have been many discussions of Steve Jobs' accomplishments, when it comes to the TV industry, one accomplishment initially stands out: iTunes. By itself, the creation of iTunes -- the web-based media content platform and its related iPod, iPhone and iPad hardware -- isn't all that compelling. But throw in an overused word, "vision," and you've got something. Jobs had a vision of what TV could be like in the digital world.

Sixty dollars for a new Hollywood movie on your home TV? Cinemark, National Amusements, and other theater chain owners, you had nothing to worry about. The fact that Universal wanted to sell the movie "Tower Heist" three weeks after it opened theatrically under a so-called "premium video on demand" window, would have done little to discourage viewers looking to watch it on the big screen. No matter. After weeks of threatening talks from theater chain executives, Universal pulled the test, which was to run in a few Comcast cable markets.

Apologies aside, Netflix didn't backtrack on one point in its Qwikster snafu that mattered most: pricing. Netflix is keeping its 60% monthly increase for consumers. (Thanks. My medical premiums only went up 10% this past year). For the company, it kept something perhaps more important: The brand name Netflix. Will consumers still be happy about that? In all this mess, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings got something right: Consumers like simplicity. (Take note, all you proponents of cable industry a la carting). One price, one bill. Period. Netflix still needs to remedy the issue of building its stocks of …

According to Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group, we just don't know what television will become -- but one thing's for sure, it will continue to be strong and influential -- and more personal. She said: "Television has always been something you watch. Now, increasingly, it's also something you do." TV will be even more personal? How close does it need to be?

Entertainment marketers love the idea of social media -- its immediacy and edginess. But as this digital word-of-mouth gets more play, it includes messages which might not be so positive.

"Film the crazy stuff you do." That was the alleged suggestion a TV producer made to a teenager about self-filming a segment for Warner Bros.' syndicated daytime talk show "Anderson." Even if half- or a quarter-true, this smells of what seemingly is still wrong in syndication and reality TV: Producers all want the craziest, more dramatic, most visible stuff for their shows -- especially for reality efforts -- sometimes to the harm of participants.

Even in this marketplace, it is hard to discount entertainment news and entertainment business news, probably the most easily digestible news content. TMZ creator Harvey Levin must believe this theory in spades -- since he'll talk about it at the National Press Club. Here's the obvious title of that talk: "Will the evening news become TMZ?"