Reply #60: I can't answer your original question because I don't own a TV at all

[salvorhardin]

I haven't had cable TV for nearly a decade now, and no TV at all for almost as long. It has just been me and my computer since at least 2003, perhaps 2004. I love it!

Putting aside the fact that I read voraciously (both online and old-fashioned paper books), the fact of the matter is that since I dropped TV altogether and got broadband internet, my entertainment/infotainment choices have been vastened.

There is literally nothing I want to watch that is not available via bit torrent downloads. Sure, it's illegal, but I don't feel too bad about it, especially since a lot of what I watch wouldn't have even been available with the super-deluxe cable package.

But increasingly, because of sites like Hulu, but also the networks themselves putting up digital content, most of what I watch is available absolutely legal. Sure, they still show commercials, but they're shorter and there's far fewer of them. IMHO, this is the way all content will go in the future. While this is sad for some things, like local TV news, on the whole it's better for the industry and better for us. Besides, local TV news is almost universally horrible. But even there I think you'll see that as local newspapers move increasingly online that they're entering the video arena as well so I don't think local video news is a thing of the past. In fact, I think local news coverage will actually become better because of this.

And then there's the podcasts. I still listen to commercial terrestrial radio like NPR and even the local classic rock stations but what's available via podcast is amazing! Almost all the NPR content is podcasted now, which means I get to pick and choose which segments of programs like Talk of the Nation that I want to listen to. And there's so many skeptical and science podcasts now that when all is said and done I don't have enough hours in the day to listen to it all.

Oh, and I think it's important to state that I'm not just a cheapskate. While I have very little money, I will pay for quality content. That's why every now and then when I can afford it I will chip in a couple of dollars to the pod and vodcasters I find worthwhile. If the networks and local affiliates/newspapers ever get their acts together I also would pay a small monthly fee to view them as well (provided they don't try to nickle and dime me to death with fees).

So I don't miss television at all. Not only did giving up TV free up my time for other interests, but it also increased both the quality and quantity of my programming options. It's more of a pain in that you need to actually plan what you're going to watch and how you're going to get it, but isn't it better to be an active consumer of media than a passive consumer just accepting what you're given?

Would I do anything different? Yes, if I ever get the money I would invest in a decent larger screen television (somewhere in the 32" to 42" range -- I currently have a 22" monitor) and build a media PC with Boxee or MythTV or the like. Boxee and MythTV are like PVRs in that they automate downloading, storage and indexing of the programming you want, and allow you to use a remote control/wireless keyboard to control the box. In the meantime, I'm happy.