Cutting The Cord - Part 10

I was just about to write to you about a new Internet TV device I just received when one of my sources called to fill me in on a couple of late-breaking developments related to the Roku devices we've been discussing in recent posts. Here's the scoop:

Word has it that HBO (a stalwart of cable TV offerings) has just signed a deal with Roku to make "older" HBO special programming available for free on Roku devices. When I asked what "older" meant, the answer was "greater than 3 years." So if you can remember some HBO special that you missed seeing (or would have seen if you had shelled out the $100/month to get cable TV back then) here's your chance to catch up. Why would HBO just give away this content? Apparently they figure that if you get accustomed to watching their "high-quality, commercial-free" programming, you're more likely to sign up with your cable TV provider to get current HBO programming.

Unless I'm missing something, there doesn't seem to be much downside for HBO to dust off its old specials and offer then up as cable TV "subscription bait." I'm not convinced that Roku watchers are going to flock in numbers to the legacy cable TV model, but time will tell. Worth a look-see anyway.

Another interesting development is the availability of YouTube on all Roku devices (it been available on Roku 3 for a while, but it's now enabled for Roku 1 and 2 too). YouTube is perhaps a greatly under-appreciated resource that I'm suggesting readers of this blog explore more deeply. If you don't have an AppleTV, or Roku, or a Chromecast yet you can check it out on your PC or Mac computer by going to www.youtube.com. YouTube is now the second most active web search engine (behind Google, of course). Let me illustrate:

Suppose you attended a recent Pentangle event featuring the Carolina Chocolate Drops (fantastic, wasn't it?) and you were blown away by an opening act you've never heard of before, Birds of Chicago. All you have to do is type "birds of chicago" in the YouTube search field and -- Presto! -- this is what you get. Short cut: click here. In a few moments you've got a front-row seat at a private Birds concert! Carolina Chocolate Drops? Yeah, they're on YouTube too! Short cut: click here. 

Now imagine that you've never changed the oil in your car and you want someone to show you how. Just fire up your Roku, select the YouTube channel, and type "how to change the oil in your car" in the search field. Short cut: click here.

I know you weren't thinking about cutting the cable TV cord so you could get all kinds of alternative entertainment and instructional programming essentially for free, but I think it's a compelling reason to ask Santa for a Roku (or just order one on Amazon or pick up one locally at Best Buy in West Lebanon). Get one even if you ultimately decide to keep your cable TV service.

Now, where was I? Oh, about the QPlay device I just bought.

(To be continued...)