Download or Broadcast Sunday, September 7, 2008 Lets see, $1.99 per episode for a show on iTunes or hmmm, FREE on broadcast? Well, broadcast isn't really free, you still have to buy a decent antenna or subscribe to cable or a dish. Tivo or DVR is a good solution too right? Well, sort of but to me the $1.99 on iTunes is worth every penny to have all of the commercials edited out and the ability to push it onto my ipod, computer or Apple TV. There is also the beauty of the easy season marathon, commercial free with a downloaded season from iTunes. Another great tool is Netflix. This is especially great to catch up with TV shows that are many seasons in and you are now just getting around to watching them. Like Lost (I just started it beleive it or not)!

So what is my point here? Simple, the thought of a broadcaster telling the consumer when they can watch their content, on which network they can watch it, on what device it can or can't be viewed and with what advertising on is very 1955. I wish the convergence would happen much faster to give the consumer an easy, turn key and reasonable way to have their content on demand at anytime, anywhere and on any device.

There have been baby steps but none have made it as easy as it needs to be. For example, Apple TV is great but you still need to have a wireless network, have iTunes, and understand digital content management. The other problem is that is doesn't provide a solution for live sports.

I am so close to being able to drop cable and have nothing but an Apple TV or other set top device yet I still love sports. Ugh, soon!! I hope! More soon.

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