RF HPC Ep22 Intel Inside Cable TV

In this episode, the Radio Free HPC team discusses recent reports of Intel's plans to bust up the cable TV industry by offering a service or set-top box that would allow customers to buy channels and individual shows a la carte, and -- AND -- access a cloud-based DVR service. The stuff of dreams, right? But not so fast. Acquiring licenses for each bit of content, and dealing with Hollywood in general, is not for the faint of heart.

What's in this uphill climb for Intel? Chips in every household; entry into a massive market; and another way to offset declining PC sales. What's in it for consumers seems pretty clear, but there's at least one major caveat: What's to stop, say, Comcast from raising rates for its Internet cable in order to cover lost revenue? Then we're all paying Intel and our local cable provider. Is this just "Meet the new boss... same as the old boss?"

This episode also gives us a peek into the guys' viewing preferences and current entertainment setups. (Henry: The Food Network instead of ESPN? Really?)

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