Intel to Challenge Cable and Offer Individual Channels

businessinsider.com ^

[chopperman]

Intel is reportedly on the cusp of delivering something that consumers around the world have been wanting for a long, long time.

Kelly Clay at Forbes reports Intel is going to blow up the cable industry with its own set-top box and an unbundled cable service.

Clay says Intel is planning to deliver cable content to any device with an Internet connection. And instead of having to pay $80 a month for two hundred channels you don't want, you'll be able to subscribe to specific channels of your choosing.

[nurees]

Micro HDMI cable from laptop or tablet to TV already gives you Netflix and Amazon Prime.

[grumpygresh]

Dropping all the Leftist channels would be GREAT!

[Revel]

“I have a roku box. Cost $79 at a bazillion stores anywhere in the country. Love it.”

I checked into that. You have to buy the 100 dollar model to get one with an Ethernet port. The rest require wireless.

I discovered that you can buy a Blue Ray DVD player equipped with the same features(And more) for around 100 dollars. Works like a charm. Roku won’t be in business for long.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Additional information.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/intel010213.htm

Washington, D.C. (January 2, 2013) — Intel has the TV technology industry buzzing with reports that it will soon unveil a revolutionary set-top/pay TV service that will compete with everyone from satellite and cable providers to Apple.

GigaOm reports that sources say that Intel will not disclose its plans at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show, as some have suggested. The web site says that it’s more likely Intel will spill the beans at an industry conference in either February or March. However, the Wall Street Journal writes that it could be as late as the fourth quarter of this year.

What will the service offer that’s so different from anyone else?

Considering that Intel’s plans are largely still under wraps, news reports are diverse and conflicting. GigaOm writes that Intel plans to offer ‘a la carte’ programming via the Internet, a long-term goal of Apple.

Under this scenario, consumers could pay only for the channels they want to watch. GigaOm says “rumors” indicate that Intel has already negotiated the rights to offer one network’s programming in a ‘a la carte’ service.

However, Apple has reportedly been unable to persuade the networks to offer their programming in a ‘a la carte’ fashion because the networks make more money selling them in bundles to pay TV providers. If Apple can’t arrange a ‘a la carte’ service, it would seem unlikely that Intel could either. The Wall Street Journal says the possibility the service will be delayed until the fourth quarter is because Intel needs more time to negotiate individual deals with the networks.

The Wall Street Journal has also reported that Intel plans to include facial recognition in its set-tops that would enable advertisers to display ads based on who’s watching. While this would certainly appeal to advertisers, it’s hard to imagine it appealing to privacy-conscious viewers.

GigaOm also writes that Intel plans to offer the service — whatever it happens to be — on all platforms, from TVs to tablets to handheld devices.

[IslamE]

Thanks Dave, I’m glad to here competition is coming, I hope it succeeds, people have to pay too much for services they don’t use or need, I would love to be able to shun MSNBC and other Democrat channels at the drop of a hat, I already do, I dropped cable, I use the internet via LCD; however, it would be nice for others to have a choice too rather than being forced into a monopoly like Comcast depending on where they live, Satellite is great, again, too many unnecessary channels, choice is power.

[upchuck]

I don’t know.

I’d like to think that the European cell companies started off with the philosophy of providing the best service at the lowest cost.

The US cell companies started off with the philosophy of “charge them out the wazoo.” And, so far, they have gotten away with it.

[Kevmo]

Interesting tech ping for your lists

[sarasota]

Investment circles have been hyping the end of tv as we know it for a couple months now. It’s only a matter of time, they say.

[headstamp 2]

As long as it comes with 27 Spanish channels that nobody watches.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I watch ESPN, Foxsports , TimeWarner Sports,...all delivered by Veriaon FiOS.

Don't increase the cost on me....it is enough already.

[bert]

a broadband connection is required......... comcast?

or for me, charter. The price if intel streamed video over cable broadband will certainly go up

[Paleo Conservative]

Most new TV’s and all BluRay players have the ability to connect to the internet.

[SunkenCiv]

Choosing channels a la carte should be the effin’ law, anyway, but then again, the feds were behind the so-called broadcast HDTV, what a fiasco, really does justify beheading all of those involved in the decisionmaking.

[GOPJ]

Clay says Intel is planning to deliver cable content to any device with an Internet connection. And instead of having to pay $80 a month for two hundred channels you don't want, you'll be able to subscribe to specific channels of your choosing.

I am sooooooo ready for this....

[GOPJ]

So long obama-loving Comcast.

So long BrightHouse with their 499 liberal channels...