Will the Internet replace cable and satellite TV? Reported by: Jerry Seregni WVUE News [New Orleans] Technology Specialist
Last Update: 12/26 1:55 pm http://www.fox8live.com/mostpopular/story/Will-the-Internet-replace-cable-and-satellite-TV/8F7l9G6K2EGcXMEoy5Gf9g.cspx My cable bill went up in December, so I'm starting to understand why consumers everywhere are pondering whether to cancel their cable or ditch their satellite dishes for Internet-delivered TV programming. It sounds far-fetched, but several people I know have already taken the plunge. Broadband access is squarely behind this trend, because high-speed Internet access now makes it possible to stream high-quality video and audio. A lot of TV content on the Web is free, but even when a cost is involved, it's usually cheaper than a monthly cable TV or satellite bill. Relying on the Web and over-the-air reception for your favorite TV programs might not suit everyone, but Internet-delivered television can offer more choices than a package of 150 channels the majority of which you rarely watch. If you have doubts, visit Sling Beta or Boxee.tv, and one blogger suggests that well-known sites, such as Joost, Hulu or TV.com, are just the tip of the iceberg (see "35 Ways To Watch Television Without Cable Or Satellite.") Big names, like Apple, Netflix, Disney and Amazon, already have Web-delivered video ventures and more are coming. Internet-delivery doesn't mean you have to watch dramas, sitcoms and movies on a computer. Game consoles and computers with compatible graphics cards can send video to a television via HDMI or A-V ports, and D-Link now makes a Boxee Box that connects to both your home network and your TV to make accessing Web-delivered TV offerings easier. I'm also starting to see more and more small form-factor computers designed to be mounted directly to the rear panels of big-screen TVs -- all signs the Internet TV revolution is well underway. Obviously, not all of the TV content available on the Web is free. Netflix, for example, charges $8.99 per month for all-your-can-eat, subject to restrictions. You can also buy episodes of your favorite network drama or sitcom at the Apple iTunes store, but owning an entire season quickly becomes a sizeable investment. Dropping cable or satellite TV could also make your cost for Internet access could go up. Most cable operators and telcos offer discounts when customers sign-up for multiple services. If your cable or satellite TV provider is also your ISP, your monthly bill for Internet access could increase $10 - $20. Add this to the problems some areas have receiving local TV channels off-air, and you can see why opting out of cable or satellite TV is a decision that must be carefully considered. Nevertheless, hundreds of products aimed at Internet-delivered television are expected to be on display at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month. The convergence of television and the Internet seems inevitable, but the industry is in its infancy. This will change. Internet-delivered TV is coming, and coming fast. -- ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 Mail: antunes at uh dot edu *********************************** * POST TO [email protected] * *********************************** Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
