[mythtv-users] (US) Dump Comcast for a dish, good Mythtv decision?

[Craig Treleaven]

At 5:33 PM -0500 8/31/09, Dave Richardson wrote:
> > On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Christopher
>> Meredith<chmeredith at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 8:20 AM, Dave Richardson <mythtv at derdev.com>
>>> wrote:
> >>>
> >
>> I would also consider this.  Comcast had a competitive advantage
>> because they didn't require boxes.  If they require boxes, they no
>> longer have that advantage, so I'll need to do an analysis of
>> cost/benefit on the new playing field.  I just did a quick comparison
>> with directv, and on a cost basis, directv wins.
>
>That hits the nail on the head!  If a dish (DirecTV) and Comcast (digital
>or otherwise requiring STBs) are now (soon) becoming functionally
>identical in terms of what Myth must do to control the STB and capture
>content, then a choice in provider becomes principally a financial
>decision (which is a delicious irony to me).
>

Another option, just to muddy the waters further, is over-the-air broadcast TV; possibly supplemented by streamed content.  Digital OTA is way easier to receive than analog was and has less compression applied than a lot of cable or satellite companies use.  Once the antenna and tuner(s) are in place, there are NO FEES to any company for content although this is where streaming comes in if something that you want to watch is not on the airwaves.  No messing with IR blasters and an external box.  Check out TV Fool or 2150.com to see what you can expect to get in your area. 

Craig