Access, convenience, and demand for quality will impact Americans' entertainment choices in 2005. Dr. Loy Singleton, professor and chair in The University of Alabama's Telecommunication and Film Department, predicts an increase in services offered by cable companies and further weakening of the reality-TV show craze.

Singleton says to look for developments in the following areas during the next 12 months:

TV programming — The reality-TV show craze is expected to cool down further in 2005, with scripted program hits like CSI, Desperate Housewives and ER already reclaiming some of the reality-TV show audience.

Digital video recording — TiVo, the popular digital video recording hardware and service with more than two million subscribers, will face increasing competition from similar services to be offered by the country's largest cable systems to their subscribers.

High-definition TVs— Retail sales of large, high definition flat-panel plasma and LCD TV screens, which took off in 2004, will continue to accelerate in 2005. Also prices will continue to drop as more hi-definition programming becomes available, which will further boost sales.

Internet access — Consumer wireless access to the World Wide Web will continue to expand, with web-enabled cell phones and laptop computers appearing in even more places and providing more web-based services.

Online gaming — With video games continuing dramatic growth in American households, more cable systems will offer interactive online gaming in an effort to get a piece of the action in 2005.

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