jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
| Internet TV Providers
Some people are starting to cancel there cable tv, just pay for high speed internet and receive tv through the internet connection.
I was wondering if anyone is familiar with this can shed the pros/cons of it.
Is there something that can match the convenience of the major cable providers? |
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swintec
Premium
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME | This forum may be of interest to you, and will provide a wealth of information on the different services. »TV over IP
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BlockNews.Net |
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greeder
join:2008-04-25
Beaverton, OR
 ·Verizon FIOS
edit:
May 19th, @11:39PM
| reply to jeffnyc
Cons:
Listening to your family complain that it just doesn't work like Cable TV.
Pros:
Lot's more content. Plenty of independent stuff like Anaboom and Wallstrip that CATV won't carry.
Since the FCC doesn't regulate TVoIP, there is also Adult content (if you are into that).
TVoIP tends to be more video on demand and less broadcast. It takes a change of mindset to get used to.
As for services and programs. I have been researching that lately. Here is what I have come up with so far:
Joost: my favorite so far. you download the Joost viewer and browse through the channels or use the search function.
Lots of content, full episodes. New stuff added daily.
Hulu: www.hulu.com I'm not impressed. Mostly just clips, not full episodes. Even the shows that say they have full episodes will have maybe one or two full shows and then a bunch of clips.
Veoh: I'm going to give this one a try. They do restream hulu content, as well as some others. Looks like there may be content overlap with Joost.
JLC's internet TV: I like this one. But it can be frustrating. The channel listing has many bad links. But once you find the good ones... This is one of the few that tunes in streams, not VOD. Lots of independent content, all the religious channels seem to be present.
TVUnetworks: I haven't tried this, but others here seem to like it.
Amazon Unbox (yes, that Amazon): Lots of great content, at $1.99 per episode.
In2Streams.com: Haven't tried this one yet either. But it looks interesting. It's a subscriptions based service, $10.99 a month I think. From what I understand, You download a playlist into your Media Player. It works with VLC and Winamp. One of the few that should work with Linux, and Macs.
JohnQ.com, Dishnetpc.com, PriemiumTVforPC.com, WatchTVonPC.com, SatelliteTVonPC.com, and a host of others with simular names: THey sell you a software viewer that is supposed to recieve over 9,000 channels (if you believe the hype). I have been led to believe that most of these are not worth it. If you want to give it a try you can go to Undernation.com and find a cracked version of DishnetPC to try out.
Miro: Unknown
------- edit ------
I gave Miro try last night. I like it. It's kind of like JLC's Internet TV on steroids. It will tune in streams (at least the two that I tested)like JLC. But it also claims it will scrape video links off web pages, so if you type in the URL of a web page, it will give you a list of the streams. It will also manage your RSS video feeds as well. I havn't tried all the features yet. Warning, it likes to download video to your hard drive. Make sure you have plenty of room.
------ end edit -----
Vuze: Untried
Video.discovery.com: A download of a viewer to watch shows from the Discovery network (Discovery channel, History channel, etc.). Haven't tried it, but it sounds intriguing. |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
| said by greeder  :Cons: Listening to your family complain that it just doesn't work like Cable TV. Pros: Lot's more content. Plenty of independent stuff like Anaboom and Wallstrip that CATV won't carry. Since the FCC doesn't regulate TVoIP, there is also Adult content (if you are into that). TVoIP tends to be more video on demand and less broadcast. It takes a change of mindset to get used to. As for services and programs. I have been researching that lately. Here is what I have come up with so far: Joost: my favorite so far. you download the Joost viewer and browse through the channels or use the search function. Lots of content, full episodes. New stuff added daily. Hulu: www.hulu.com I'm not impressed. Mostly just clips, not full episodes. Even the shows that say they have full episodes will have maybe one or two full shows and then a bunch of clips. Veoh: I'm going to give this one a try. They do restream hulu content, as well as some others. Looks like there may be content overlap with Joost. JLC's internet TV: I like this one. But it can be frustrating. The channel listing has many bad links. But once you find the good ones... This is one of the few that tunes in streams, not VOD. Lots of independent content, all the religious channels seem to be present. TVUnetworks: I haven't tried this, but others here seem to like it. Amazon Unbox (yes, that Amazon): Lots of great content, at $1.99 per episode. In2Streams.com: Haven't tried this one yet either. But it looks interesting. It's a subscriptions based service, $10.99 a month I think. From what I understand, You download a playlist into your Media Player. It works with VLC and Winamp. One of the few that should work with Linux, and Macs. JohnQ.com, Dishnetpc.com, PriemiumTVforPC.com, WatchTVonPC.com, SatelliteTVonPC.com, and a host of others with simular names: THey sell you a software viewer that is supposed to recieve over 9,000 channels (if you believe the hype). I have been led to believe that most of these are not worth it. If you want to give it a try you can go to Undernation.com and find a cracked version of DishnetPC to try out. Miro: Unknown Vuze: Untried Video.discovery.com: A download of a viewer to watch shows from the Discovery network (Discovery channel, History channel, etc.). Haven't tried it, but it sounds intriguing. Thanks for the comprehensive reply.
To my understanding - if you want to use this to substitute as cable you sort of need a dedicated pc with a decent processor and tv-out (s-video).
I guess if you get decent reception on broadcast channels and dont need the cable. My question is do any of these services allow you to flip through channels for live tv just like cable box.
I just think right now, without the latest equipment - it probably is not worth the hassle.
I may take your advice and try out the dishnetpc |
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cdr1000
join:2004-02-18
11111 | Get ISTAR
»https://www.istarhd.com/order/index.asp |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | I went to the site. Still dont get actually what it is. |
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Dude
What Happens When I Do This
Premium
join:2000-11-20
Chicago, IL
clubs:   | The ISTAR Mini can access digital media content from a variety of sources, such as NAS, USB 2.0, eSATA and SATA devices* (USB flash drive, SATA HDD, DVD drive, etc.) ISTAR Mini can also serve as a NAS and a BitTorrent peer-to-peer downloader.** |
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cdr1000
join:2004-02-18
11111 | reply to jeffnyc
Here
»www.networkedmediatank.com/viewforum.php?f=7 |
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dustinrjo
join:2008-07-11
Pasadena, CA
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| reply to jeffnyc
I took the leap of faith this last time I switch apartments and haven't looked back yet. I used to just DVR everything I wanted to watch, but the fact was that my favorite shows ever, World Rally Championship, Arrested Development, Iron Chef, Apprentice UK, and so on, were so spottily available that even with a DVR I was only watching one to two shows a week and the rest I had to watch on my computer. Now I've gotten everything hooked up to a media storage drive and I download everything and watch it streamed over my network. It is great since I pay $40 a month, get everything I want (though Iron Chef is still hard to find even on bit torrent and usenet) and I pay way way less than with cable at $95/month.
I agree with the previous poster about the family complaining, but so far my gf is just watching DVD's of her favorite anime (doesn't understand computer files yet, weird).
I also agree with some of the recommendations for where to find content, Hulu has more than it did, but still sucks with its dodgy flash player. Overall though, I can't get everything I want yet legally, but until they make it available, I would be able to pay for it anyway. |
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geraldz
join:2008-08-27
Ellicott City, MD
moderated:
August 28th, @08:24AM
| reply to jeffnyc
I'm thinking of dumping my Comcast television but I'll still keep the cable for the internet. I'm spending most of my time watching internet television piped to my TV through my laptop.
[referral link removed by moderator] |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Boca Raton, FL | Yes Comcast should follow Cox make the customer happy. I wouldn't dump Comcast cable just as yet. |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | reply to jeffnyc
But say I want to watch a live tv show, i.e. Bones in on Fox tonight at 8pm. Is there a way to watch on it on the internet at the same time it is being broadcast? |
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darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
Premium
join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
edit:
August 27th, @02:39PM
| said by jeffnyc :But say I want to watch a live tv show, i.e. Bones in on Fox tonight at 8pm. Is there a way to watch on it on the internet at the same time it is being broadcast? From the major networks? Not currently. Usually next day stuff is available.
[oops, lost track of which forum i was in  ] |
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shtoopendus
join:2008-08-29
Burnaby, BC
| reply to jeffnyc
I think you are all confused as to what TVOIP is.. here in vancouver.. we have a telephone company that provides poeple with high speed internet (DSL) which is high speed through a phone line. from there, the internet gets plugged into a router, then to another box of sorts then is is placed into the cable box (usually found on the outside of your house that is controlled by the cable company) from that point, the signals are then translated into a signal that a Set Top Box can receive.
basically what it is, is cable TV from your phone provider, giving you something they couldnt before to fight the competitor since they got in quicker with VOIP. its all pointless anyway considering none of the b@st@rds in canada support cableCARDs so i can ditch this damn STB i have hooked up to my HTPC.  |
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lilhurricane
Crunchin' for CURES
Premium,Mod
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone
clubs:
·Comcast
Host:
TV over IP
Software
RCN
Inside Insight
Team Discovery
edit:
August 29th, @06:33AM
| I don't think we're confused at all..
»TVoIP FAQ »The Technology of TVoIP
In here we discuss the software end of TVoIP, not hardware such as set-top boxes. That goes to »Audio/Video Chat
Various offerings thru ISP's also have their own forums here |
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Wizeguy
join:2008-08-23
Safety Harbor, FL
| reply to darcilicious
So what your saying darcilious it that no one not a single Cable Company or Satellite TV provider can broadcast live to your PC or Laptop? For a Chicago Bears fan living in Florida and travels frequently this is discouraging. I for one would like to have a service that can bring wireless prime time into my 42" HDTV at home (as it is being broadcast) and when I travel be able to tune into CSI or Law and Order.
You would think with all the technology avaliale today someone would come up with that. |
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darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
Premium
join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| Well there are two things that come to mind:
1) You can buy a device like the Slingbox or HAVA which you connect up to a) a set top box / cable or satellite connection and b) to your home network. After configuring and installing the software (say on your laptop that you travel with) you can remotely control / view YOUR cable/satellite programming on your computer over the Internet. I do this now with a HAVA clone (Pinnacle's PCTV To Go) and LOVE IT. I can even watch most stations on my older (jailbroken) iPhone via orb.com (who are hard at work releasing a native app for the newer iPhone, I can't WAIT).
2) Alternatively, for some types of programming, such as sports, and for availability directly from the Internet, there are sites such »sports.espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/index , »mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp , and »www.nfl.com/nflanytime
Other than that, neither cable/satellite companies nor major networks for primetime programming provide live streaming -- as of yet. This past year, ABC did a great job of providing shows the next day and in relatively high-quality, including HD-streaming (though they weren't ad free). NBC does things like Hulu, etc. I can't recall offhand what CBS is up to.
Studios I think, and not too unlike the music industry, are having a hard time balancing the consumer's need for anytime/anywhere content while still a) maintaining control so that they can b) still make money. |
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Wizeguy
join:2008-08-23
Safety Harbor, FL | Sounds way to complicated for an old timer like me. I think I'll just wait until I can just plug in and go. Or log into a website and have access to the world. Thanks for the insight. |
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Homers cousin
@comcast.net
| reply to jeffnyc
To: Wiseguy. I have been looking for the same thing. I haven't found it. I don't think it exists. It's a money thing. You might be able to find your programming with a time delay, but not live. If you are looking for football broadcasts in particular, look at »myp2p.eu
They carry some American football games typically one day after the event.
If there are pay services out there, I don't know much about them. I concentrate on the freebees.
Internet TV just isn't the same as cable or satellite at the moment. |
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Wizeguy
join:2008-08-23
Safety Harbor, FL
| Sorry for the delay in replying Homers Cousin. I was out of town (in California and Vegas). I got wind of something that may be as different as anything you could imagine. I hear it's wireless cable TV right to your PC or the flat screen in your living room. I'll keep you posted when I find out more. |
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