Source

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.

This set-top box, said by industry insiders to be available to a limited beta of customers in March, will offer cable channels delivered “over the top” to televisions anywhere there is an Internet connection regardless of provider. (Microsoft Mediaroom, for example, requires AT&T’s service, and Xbox has limited offerings for Comcast and FiOS customers). For the first time, consumers will be able to subscribe to content per channel, unlike bundled cable services, and you may also be able to subscribe per show as well. Intel’s set-top box will also have access to Intel’s already existing app marketplace for apps, casual games, and video on demand. Leveraging the speed of current broadband, and the vast shared resources of the cloud, Intel plans to give customers the ability to use “Cloud DVR”, a feature intended to allow users to watch any past TV show at any time, without the need to record it ahead of time, pause live tv, and rewind shows in progress.

Sounds pretty damn cool. As a consumer this is definately something i would be interested in, particularly subscribing to a single show or series. I think this is a pretty good step towards dealing with piracy.

there is another article here which talks about the reasons this idea might fail and the hefty resistance Intel will face from content providers.

Can I go one better and simply subscribe to shows, not channels?

...

For the first time, consumers will be able to subscribe to content per channel, unlike bundled cable services, and you may also be able to subscribe per show as well.

???!!!?!?!?!

:P

Great, but how about instead all these faffing external boxes you come up with an interconnect standard that would allow this functionality to be embedded in to a TV - either as a daughterboard or with some kind of standard interface?

How is it that every single device out there falls short and gets things wrong?

sounds good but i doubt we will get it here in australia any time soon considering we haven't even got hulu or netflix yet.

I have netflix at my place in the US and i spend more time watching that than i do the cable tv we have. Thats is kind of suprising to be honest because netflix doesnt actually have that big of a range of viewing to choose from but at $7 a month i wont complain.

Hi Foxtel - please take notice so I can start subscribing to individual channels rather than packages.

I was hoping they would use this model for Foxtel on xbox 360, the stupid a******* make you buy a base package and then entertainment/sport/movies packages to get anything of use. You're paying for the infrastructure and the hardware, There's no need for packages in this setup.

I don't think per channel is enough anyway, needs per show/series purchasing options.

I have netflix at my place in the US and i spend more time watching that than i do the cable tv we have. Thats is kind of suprising to be honest because netflix doesnt actually have that big of a range of viewing to choose from but at $7 a month i wont complain.

Quickflix is $16 a month here and they charge you $5 a month to stream the very same movies they will deliver to your door via snail mail for free. That's the problem I see with things like this, it will be too expensive and too restrictive to be worth it in Australia.

It's not the device that matters, it's the service and they are limited heavily by outdated licensing setups. No matter what technology intel bring they won't be able to get around that hurdle.

I would be interested in the per-series option. If it was at a reasonable NON-AUSTRALIAN-TAX price. That is I'm willing to go 10% higher than the US price but no more if GST is involved.

Quickflix is $16 a month here and they charge you $5 a month to stream the very same movies they will deliver to your door via snail mail for free

I'm confused by your wording, are you saying it is more expensive to stream than post (website pricing) or is this only a special scenario for the pay per play movies (new releases) and you pay a premium to stream those on top of the regular subscription costs?

last edited by scuzzy at 14:52:54 02/Jan/13

Foxtel is copping an absolute caning over the new Movie channels.
The old Movie Network is gone and due to some Movie agreements ending Foxtel is basically providing the Showtime package spread over 10 channels forming 2 packages.
Foxtel is demanding lower prices and the Movie houses are holding out.

As such Subs on the full Movies package are paying full price for half the Movies. The upside is all movie channels are now HD and dont carry watermarks.

This box might work in America but it has no hope here.
Foxtel has too much content sewed up and this box wont have Sport at least not AFL/NRL.
Internet TVs dont need a box.
The big crunch is coming though and Foxtel knows it.

For new releases they charge you $5 for a 48 hour license on top of your subscription.

Gotcha, cheers.

Hrm, judging by my steam experience, I'm happy to pay for what I currently pirate if there is a decent supply mechanism, but who even has a tv under the age of 30, needs a pc-based software platform ftw.

I could go for something like that, pay a $5 or $10 sub per month to the history channel (example) and get access to all their channels and programs past and present without all the bulls*** of pay tv. Of course if they wanted to fill it full of f*****g ads id just s*** can them.

Dont underestimate Foxtel.
They are working on their 'own Netflix' (oh no Ive said too much)

iQ3 will be out Q2
http://www.pace.com/global/our-portfolio/set-top-box/cable/dpc5000/

http://www.pace.com/Global/Images/Products/Page/1208_dzx5000_large.jpg

up to 2 Tb
Thats a lot of content.

For the first time, consumers will be able to subscribe to content per channel, unlike bundled cable services

hallelujah.
i'm sick of being approched by foxtel knobs in the shops asking if i want paytv when i want 4-6 channels only. "sorry sir we can't do that" FOAD.

hey foxtel, give the people what they want!

For the first time, consumers will be able to subscribe to content per channel, unlike bundled cable services

The curious thing is how media companies are going to be pressured into it - popular channels pay for the niche ones - so I would imagine with this model things like history channel going away (sad face).

Seems like an odd market for Intel to try to enter

Yes, its definitely an odd market indeed. Intel isn't really big on the consumer electronics product side let alone making content deals. Maybe they are partnering with someone who is good on the consumer electronics product side :) And maybe who already has deals with media companies :) And maybe who has shown in the past their ability to change the media companies business model (and convince them to jump on board) :) And maybe that partner company has rumours of their own of "nailing the TV space" :)

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/01/mac_intel_handshake.jpg

Just sayin :)

I suspect that even if premium channels can be offered seperately they wont be cheap.

Have you noticed how tough it is to order Chicken seperately at KFC ?
They just want to sell you Fries and Gravy and Drinks, extras/side dishes.
PayTV works by the subscriber buying more than they need, extras/side dishes to offset the cost of what they really want.

PayTV is the same all over the World.
The single channel fantasy you all want doesnt exist.
PayTV here is too expensive and doesnt have enough channels.
Thats the only difference to the World, that and of course, Competition.

heards <3

<3

but I roll in HD and will always have fox whilst they have most of the sport

lulz, but the ads!? and ITS SO EXPESNIVE!!?!?!?!?

. As a consumer this is definately something i would be interested in,

As an AUSTRALIAN consumer you will never have access to this. unless i missed something in the article that stated it would be available here..

I don't pay anything and use friends foxtel to watch the sports and the tv's and it works great.

Also more sociable than drinking a beer wishing your wifey would leave you alone.

I have fetchtv $14.95 wouldnt say it isnt worth it, but its ok....

If you can subscribe to individual channels I can see a lot of those dud filler channels that come bundled with a lot of services just dying off completely.