[mythtv-users] Sell mythtv 'set-top' boxes

[Ian Bishop]

>> Having a fee based listing alternative to xmltv is NOT a bad thing in
>> itself. As long as the fee is for a single easily replacable
>> module, it can
>> be a choice, yet not forced onto the users. If XMLTV goes out for a
>> while, you can always use the pay service while working on
>> alternatives. Also if the quality of listings is better, I bet many
>> people would choose to pay.
>
> I agree; I would certainly pay a nominal fee for a more permanent &
> reliable source of EPG data.   Actually, what would be great would be a
> free/premium type service.  For instance, check out some of the dynamic
> dns services like dyndns.org.  Their basic service is free (they do take
> donations, both $$ and equipment), plus they have extra premium services
> that pay the bills.
>
> I would not be averse to seeing a company form around MythTV.  It would
> contribute back to the Myth open source base, provide 'basic' free
> listing data (maybe just a couple of days' worth, like the new
> stripped-down OEM Tivo service...), plus sell pre-configured boxes and
> premium services for subscribers only.  It would actually resemble Tivo,
> (or maybe like OpenOffice vs. StarOffice), except it would be Myth,
> meaning: open, full user control of recorded data, no restrictions on
> hacking/tinkering.  Okay, maybe the premium/preconfigure version would
> have the commercial-skipping disabled, just to keep the MPAA off our
> backs (but you could easily reenable it by downloading the source code).
>  I dunno, I'm just rambling.  If I could start or work for such a
> company, I'd be a happy camper.  Unfortunately (or fortunately,
> depending how you look at it), my current job pays far too well, and
> with a wife, 2 kids & a house, such a venture would be too big a risk
> for me.
>
> -JAC

So what would be required in setting up a "co-op" of listing consumers? 
Anyone know what costs are associated with getting the listings from
Zap2It?

Hardware/networking/database/code stuff is easy enough to setup if we can
get the data in a more pure format...

Ian