While the new Apple TV announcement today didn’t quite have the “wow” factor we were all hoping for it did lay the groundwork for what’s hopefully coming soon.
Yesterday my roommate and I decided we were done with Comcast. We just couldn’t justify paying an extra $100/month for some HD channels and HBO. Although we haven’t completely cut the cord as we still pay for basic cable which includes local HD channels and of course internet we did cut our bill from $170/month down to around $70. I mean we really only watch a handful of channels as most channels are full of crap we have absolutely no interest in.
With the announcement from Apple today we had high hopes that all the networks would be on board, but so far it’s just ABC and Fox. Hopefully the others will hop on board soon including premium channels like HBO. I’d love to be able to stream a rental of Entourage in HD the day after it originally airs for $0.99. I know Roku does some of these things too and that’s definitely an alternative, but I really think it’ll take a company like Apple to finally push ala carte programming into mainstream.
Apple also announced the new Apple TV will allow you to stream in HD directly from Apple TV, Netflix or any iOS device. This is great and honestly takes care of most of my programming and I’m sure others will work with Apple to provide content for it in the future for streaming, but it still doesn’t take care of my main reason for even turning the TV on… Live sports.
I know ESPN is now offering a streaming service for Xbox which hopefully will come to the Apple TV, but it’s still limited in what sporting events you can watch. The NFL still doesn’t allow it as they have a huge licensing agreement with the cable companies (don’t even get me started on the purchase of NBC by Comcast), but again… hopefully our selection will grow.
For now I’ll just have to deal with paying Comcast my share of the $70/month for basic cable and internet. I’ll still be able to watch live sports on local HD channels and typically go to a local bar/restaurant anyways on Sundays for the NFL games. With the addition of the new Apple TV I will be able to rent TV shows for cheap, movies albeit still to expensive, watch movies on Netflix and hopefully one day soon watch live sporting events in HD for a small fee or monthly subscription. I know it’s not the technology holding up this up, but the cable company contracts and Hollywood studios, but for God’s sake this is 2010… here’s to getting rid of the monopoly knows as the cable companies and allowing the user to choose what content we want, when we want it and where we want to watch it.
What would it take for you to ditch your cable company?
My name is Bryan Hauer and I was born on January 11, 1976 in St. Paul, MN. Although my friends liked to kid me about it I am no relation as far as I know to the actor Rutger Hauer.
I grew up mostly in Minnesota and Wisconsin as I attended grade school in St. Paul, MN and junior high and high school in Racine, WI. After graduating high school I then went on to attend college in LaCrosse, WI.
Although I was born in Minnesota and lived there and Wisconsin most of my younger years, I've also lived in quite a few other states. 
