Is it possible...

[LazerFlash]

...to 'marry' the Internet with an HD TV and eliminate cable/satellite TV? My wife & I were chatting last night. One of her most endearing - and often most frustrating - qualities is to see WAY outside the box. (For a literalist like me, this can be very frustrating at times.) From her perspective, the HD DVR box we have is nothing more than a tuner with a hard drive and some specialized software installed. (Okay, not too far off the mark.) She wanted to know why we couldn't just connect a HDMI-equipped laptop with a huge hard drive and some kind of software (or hardware) to the Internet and get all of our TV through the broadband connection, bypassing the thick black cable coming out of the wall and eliminating the associated monthly charge for TV. After thinking about why it couldn't work, I realized that in a simplistic sort of way, it *should* be possible. The question is, is it? Anyone (Tony?) done it or seriously investigated it?

[chipgallo]

Some thoughts on the idea of replacing cable TV with internet sources -- you will need a robust internet connection, especially if you are looking for high definition content. More than one viewer will multiply the load on your network connection. Sites like Hulu are beginning to add fees for some content. If you have cable internet, they will charge more if you cancel the TV component.

This GHacks article covers some of the programming sites for your perusal. It could be useful to make a punch list of desired shows and check availability.

[Hulu Plus gives access to network shows in HD for $7.99/month. Only one device allowed and some technical requirements here.]

[evolsno1]

we subscribe with Comcast and only get the highspeed internet. I have my TV hooked up via HTMI as my second monitor on my computer. We have 50ft of HDMI running through the walls connecting the computer in the computer room to the TV in the living room. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse to navigate. We subscribe only to Hulu+ which is $7.99 plus our internet at $80.00. We pretty much cut our cable bill more than in half. When we want to watch a movie we have a few options, find something old and free from Hulu, rent from Amazon.com, use Vudu. These are all great streaming options and they all do "HD" but none come close to the quality of renting an actual Blu-Ray disc. We have a Blu-Ray player that is connected to the internet and that is what we use when we want to watch movies from Vudu or rent Blu-Rays.

There are obvious draw backs to eliminating cable TV and the biggest of them is it is impossible to watch everything via internet streaming. I'm pretty sure that CBS does not stream any of there shows, so if your a fan of anything there your SOL. Also you can nix live sporting events. I'm a hockey fan so I know I can watch the Caps play on NHL.com for a price if I chose to but I've not looked in to football, baseball ect... Another drawback is not every show is available immediately after it airs, some make you wait a day, some a month. You will also be without HBO and Showtime. If your lucky, you know someone with HBO and they are nice enough to give you their log in info to their cable provider so you can take advantage of HBO GO, a free service to HBO customers that enables them to stream shows and movies for free.

In my opinion, if you're not glued to the TV now, then your transition to the wonderful world of no cable wont be THAT painful.

[Tony]

The networks and cable companies are moving quickly to stifle the cord cutting attempts. Not only is current broadband too slow, but they're also trying to cap the quantity and slow down anything they don't bless.

We have Google TV via the Logitech Revue ($99 if you can still find it). The newest Google Q at $299 sold out the first day. Clearly there's an enormous interest in cable cutting, obviously caused by the completely absurd prices they're trying to charge for it. However, when all is said and done, we have kept our basic cable. We like to channel surf, and we like a lot of network programming that just can't be found on the internet (at all, or for weeks afterwards).

Picking a few of my own favorites off the top of my head: People's Court, American Pickers, Hardcore Pawn, Judge Judy, Survivor, Pawn Stars, Game of Thrones, Storage Wars, etc. - none are available online immediately or at all. Well, maybe behind a Hulu or Netflix wall, but probably not.

Read today's news stories about how Google is fighting back by introducing 1gbps broadband at only $70/mo. Only in Kansas City for now, but let's all hope this seriously shames the other cable companies into doing something to match.

[amscook]

We use www.ustvnow.com You can get the basic channels for free which are streaming or you can subscribe to HD with 200+ channels with unlimited (record 20+ channels at the same time)DVR and connect using your HDMI to the TV. I think I pay 24.95 for the basic plus with DVR and it works great!

[cindylu]

Isn't that what Bill Gates and possibly the MAC people have wanted? To do everything via "computer" network --- shopping, ordering home delivery pizza (fast food) and "t.v."???

Evansol -- great ideas!!

[evolsno1]

We use www.ustvnow.com You can get the basic channels for free which are streaming or you can subscribe to HD with 200+ channels with unlimited (record 20+ channels at the same time)DVR and connect using your HDMI to the TV. I think I pay 24.95 for the basic plus with DVR and it works great!

]

I just went to the ustvnow.com and it says you can only watch tv from abroad. How are you able to watch here?

[amscook]

Hmmm. Well, I live in Panama now, so that could be why. However, if you have a vpn, you could say you are anywhere, that could do it for you.

[Tony]

Hmmm. Well, I live in Panama now, so that could be why. However, if you have a vpn, you could say you are anywhere, that could do it for you.

I suppose it would, but that would require a PC. AFAIK there's no media adapter that allows one to set up a VPN - including my Revue. Somehow I think it's safe to assume this is a pirate outfit, and none of the revenue they collect is sent back to the producers.

[evolsno1]

yea I use usagoals.com to get my hockey streams. Its def not legit

[KatherineA]

There is an artist le in the Post today along this topic. The End of TV as we Know It. About Aereo a company that some how gets broadcast signals from big companies likeCBS. Aereowon a lawsuit that allows them to do this and provide the shows to others through its network

[Tony]

Don't get too excited about Aereo - the decision on 7/11/12 simply denied a temporary injunction; it did not rule on the case itself. Clearly Aereo's defense will be that they should be allowed to re-broadcast to anyone that could receive the signal over the air anyway. But that means currently they could only re-broadcast to certain areas in and near New York City. Were they to set up in Wash. DC, it's unlikely they could sell to us on the Blue Ridge. But all that is in the future.

A fairly basic primer article today from Andrew@retrevo: http://www.retrevo.com/content/blog/...ot-be-everyone

Is cord cutting for you? Unfortunately there is no clear answer to that question. On the one hand you can often get a lot of what you normally watch without cable or satellite but on the other hand there's a lot you can't get.

PS KA: I think you're referring to an article from Cecilia Kang@wapost from 7/18/12 "Aereo CEO on dismantling television as we know it"? But keep in mind this isn't an unbiased examination, it's a q&a with the Aero bigwigs who, knowing they will need investors, are declaring this some sort of huge victory. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...CvtW_blog.html

[KatherineA]

No Tony, I was referring to the article in THIS Sunday's business section with the title noted above. I hadn't had a lot of coffee yet, but I am pretty sure I knew what day it was and what paper I was reading yesterday. I didn't link the article because I can't do that on the Kindle easily. And, I'm all about easy.

[chipgallo]

Harkening back to the original question -- are you able to snag any local channels "off the air" with an antenna? Perhaps combining that with some internet delivered content would suffice. Local stations are also good for when the internet is unavailable, say in a zombie apocalypse.

Antennaweb.org shows this list of OTA stations for my ground address:
http://www.antennaweb.org/Stations.a...Lon=-77.761034