Comments on: Syncbak Aims to Bring Local TV Online

By: Mike E.

Mike E. — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:40:52 +0000

If this truly allows watching the live feed from the local affiliate, then the potential for this is huge. Sports fans alone will keep this solvent. If this brings NFL football and PGA Tour golf to my HTPC without cable or OTA, I’m interested.

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:04:45 +0000

Aren’t regular tv station web sites good enough to get local sports results or news? I see no advantage in watching a live sports or news report but I suppose there are those that might. And they’re the ones who have all the fancy toys necessary for this. We all can’t afford iPads or smart phones or connected tvs. :-)

By: Ryan Lawler

Ryan Lawler — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:29:42 +0000

@Emma, In addition to online delivery, this will also let broadcasters create more interesting IP-based services — like VOD — delivered to connected TVs and other devices (think: iPad) to augment the linear feeds. Also, if you’re a local sports fan, getting update from the local reporters is always preferable to national coverage. For me, at least. ;)

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:47:39 +0000

Why would I want to watch my local station via the internet? If I’m not at home and can’t watch my TV, I’m probably busy doing something more important. Or if I live in Nashville and I’m visiting Phoenix, for example, I’m concerned with the weather in Phoenix than I am in Nashville. This sounds like a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:00:46 +0000

As GPS chips get cheaper, and work better indoors, I wonder if this approach will simply get swamped by location-aware mobile devices and set-top boxes that can independently verify that they’re in the broadcaster’s market, irrespective of whether they’re in the home or elsewhere.