Herk

I need your help again, Tufp(yeah, I've coined a phonetic). Actually, millions of us need your help. Sidebar, this may be suited for Entertainment, but the minds I need browse this forum.

I don't watch much TV, save Lost religiously. Well, given that caveat, I don't watch any TV on my TV. I just bought a 46"HDTV yesterday, and I'd like to have some decent programming, and by "I", I mean my wifey. The only two options we have here in KCMO are TimeWarner and DirectTV. Well, basically TimeWarner is out because they don't deserve to participate, but we gave them a fair shot.

Basically they said that you have to sign up for 2-year contract, but that they cannot tell us what the price will be in 12 months. What the hell? You want me to sign up for a potentially-hundred-million-dollars-more clause? DirectTV, does not have a package that excites me at all.

Sorry for the preface, here goes. I want to build a small box to attach to the PC. Ubuntu or some linux distro. I want it to deliver something LIKE hulu or ABC.com to my TV. Here is the problem, ABC.com's full episode player will not work in linux, and I've yet to get it working in Firefox w/Wine.

Is there a way to do this? Can I get a decent programming package delivered over my broadband? Are there any companies that are doing this? Delivering a premium signal through your internet connection, bypassing cable companies?

I just feel that it is a sham, because I know I can watch some good TV in my computer room. I just want to be able to do it in a more TV-like way complete with DVR via a small Ubuntu box. Can you steer me in the right direction?

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-Blind faith runs into things!-