no TV, no problem

I had (free) satellite TV available to me...then I didn't.

I live too far from the city to watch over-air broadcast TV. I can get one station...but had satellite TV. When I do/did watch broadcast stations, I time-shift with a VCR and DVR. My control over my time...that I do what I want when I want...is very important to me.

The satellite service has been out for a week. I've never been a big (TV) watcher. I watch what I like...I have my favorites: news, tech, The Shield, Real Time with Bill Maher...

I love vodcasts: I start the download and walk away, they're there when I want them, they're free, I can rewind and forward through the content.

I wanted to be updated on the news. I couldn't think of any one website I wanted to go to , so I used Google and searched for "watch news".

One site had links to CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox. I tried them. What I wanted to see (Heroes) was not available. What I attempted to see...CBS News...crashed Firefox. Streaming video from CNN is too jerky...

I have no interest in making an effort of going through YouTube, Google Video, AOL Video, and the like, to find something I want to see.

A few days ago I scanned the AM and FM dial...twice...to see if there was anything on I wanted to hear. There wasn't. Later, when I feel like taking the time to seek for something I want to hear, I MIGHT consider listening to some streaming audio.

CNN Radio (which has an option to listen to CNN TV) did not work in Firefox. I'll bookmark it anyway...

For now, I have: terabytes of podcasts/vodcasts and music files, CDs, and DVDs, and can watch streaming video from Netflix.

I'm probably too selective. I'm not like others who will watch TV and a movie...just to watch it. I need to be interested - maybe even entertained - or I will not be pacified by the presentation.

I must have high-speed internet (and the electricity to power it)...I can do more with it, than without it.

Are you really getting the value you want for the dollar you pay?