Want to ditch your cable TV service for $19.99/month?
February 19th, 2010, 5:02 pm · 20 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
Sezmi box and antenna
For those tired of an ever-increasing TV bill, it’s Sezmi to the rescue.
The Belmont, Calif. company launched its hybrid TV service in the Orange County, Los Angeles area this week with service plans between $4.99 to $19.99.
The lower price includes stuff that is mostly free already, including local TV channels and Youtube videos, plus access to on-demand movies for an extra fee.
The higher-price subscription adds access to 15 cable channels, including CNN, Nickelodeon and Discovery (see chart on lower right). The company has contracts with Turner Broadcasting, Discovery, Viacom and NBC Universal.
Users must invest in a $299 box and have high-speed Internet at home. The box mixes free over-the-air local TV channels with on-demand movies and videos and the cable channels.
Now, Sezmi calls the box, which includes a 1-terabyte DVR, a hybrid model of broadcast and broadband. It’s not a souped-up digital converter box that millions of analog TV users bought last year in order to watch local channels.
Sezmi mixes local TV with online videos and select cable channels.
| Sezmi cable channels | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Animal Planet |
| 2. | Bravo |
| 3. | Cartoon Network |
| 4. | CNN |
| 5. | Comedy Central |
| 6. | Discovery |
| 7. | MTV |
| 8. | Nickelodeon |
| 9. | SyFy |
| 10. | TBS |
| 11. | TLC |
| 12. | TNT |
| 13. | TruTV |
| 14. | USA |
| 15. | VH1 |
Its “advanced reception system,” which looks like a black speaker, receives over-the-air channels better than a plain old converter box apparently.
“It is the most effective indoor TV reception system on the market—yet small enough to sit on a book shelf,” says the company. Since I haven’t tested this out myself, I don’t know if the technology can somehow reel in local TV channels like Fox that are otherwise absent unless you have a sturdy rooftop antenna.
But don’t forget to read the fine print.
You’ll still need high-speed Internet of at least 1.5 Mbps, which means you’ll continue to have a monthly bill with either your cable or DSL provider. You’ll need a home Wi-Fi network. On-demand movies cost $0.99 to $4.99 to rent. And the upfront $299 investment may be off putting for folks who have previously invested in the next great dud. Still, with a 1 TB hard drive that offers many non paid-TV users a video recorder, the price almost seems too little.
There’s a long list of defunct companies that offered set-top boxes and lifetime subscriptions for consumers who wanted to watch Internet video on demand on a TV. Remember Akimbo, ReplayTV, and Interactive Television Networks? And don’t forget, there are other new Web TV devices now available or coming soon, including the D-Link Boxee Box (service is expected to be free) and Internet TVs like the Vizio VIA.
And there’s still a lot of online video content missing from Sezmi’s channels, including Hulu.com, Netflix instant streaming and the new HBO Go.
It’s an interesting venture but with anything that requires an upfront investment, I’d worry about its longevity. This week’s announcement is that the hardware is available at local Best Buy stores. But call ahead to see if the store carries the box.
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I’m curious: do the cable networks come over the broadband connection? And is it an actual feed of the channel, or just access to their content on demand? Is it in HD? Also, do you HAVE to use the internal antenna or can you attach your own awesome roof mounted antenna?
I suppose I should ask them, huh?
Does that include the remote control unit? Does the RCU have a keyboard like the new D-Link Boxee box?
Can I use my own home theatre PC and just subscribe to their cable channel lineup?
Frankly, $300 is way too much for a dedicated box. Tamara pointed out the missing factors and the simple way to solve those problems is to OPEN the box and let users hack-in Hulu, Firefox, etc. If possible, make it compatible with Boxee’s or XBMC’s plug-in architecture so users can expand the functionality quickly, easily.
Ooofa, these guys need better product marketing/management.
Does the RCU have a keyboard on the back like the new D-Link Boxee box remote?
Can I use my own home theatre PC and just subscribe to their cable channel lineup?
Frankly, $300 is way too much for a dedicated box. Tamara pointed out the missing factors and the simple way to solve those problems is to OPEN the box and let users hack-in Hulu, Firefox, etc. If possible, make it compatible with Boxee’s or XBMC’s plug-in architecture so users can expand the functionality quickly, easily.
Ooofa, these guys need better product marketing/management.
Gee CNN but no FOX???? Wonder why?
Fox probably wants too much money. Sezmi is a budget service, so they are probably looking to pay as little as possible for programming.
Remember the TimeWarner negotations with Fox earlier this year? Fox was wanting a much higher rate than in previous negotiations. Although those negotiations didn’t include Fox News (which is what I assume you are asking about), I’d imagine they want a premium price for Fox News too.
Sezmi doesn’t have the negotiating power (# of customers) behind them that TimeWarner does, so Fox (and all the programmers) are likely to make their offer as a “take it or leave it” and not really care if they are a part of the service or not.
Finally, I don’t want to get too political, but I’d guess the demographics of Fox News viewers are skewed to the older crowd. The market that Sezmi is likely to get are younger people – more tech savvy and willing to make the leap to a new technology. Therefore, programming geared toward an older demographic is less valuable to them.
Yaaaa Why no Fox? If they pick CNN then why not MSNBC..They’re both in the ratings tank. Looks to me like a pack of losers if they can’t provide the viewers with high rating channels.
Big Telecom will unleash the deadly handset headlock and kill Sezmi. Don’t waste your time. Verizon Fios and ATT Uverse didnt invest millions of dollars to let you get away with $20 TV, did you? Silly middle class Americans.
I participated in the study group for this system and had to return it because I got horrible reception on the antenna and the system didn’t pick up any channels no matter where in the room I placed the antenna. To be fair I also can’t get satellite because I don’t receive good reception where I live.
No MSNBC???
Good call DB!
Gotta have the alternative voice of FOX or no deal for me. Otherwise it sure beats what I am currently paying through DISH.
The good news is, competition is heating up with these devices, whether set-top or wifi ready tv’s. 299.00 is steep for something that might be obsolete in less than a year.
That is absolutely amusing, because with our DSL Internet we have acccess to 1,000 or more channels,for $19.99 monthly,and the entire Internet,telephoney(LOL) and everything else but dinner,that can even be ordered via the web too. SUCH A DEAL! And we have been enjoying it all for a DOZEN YEARS. HMMMMM
Competition?? REALLY…….what next !!!
We added streaming Netflix to our TV through the PS3 and also to the laptop for $8.95 a month. We can watch two different TV shows or movies at the same time. We ditched cable maybe ten years ago and dish three years ago. My neighbor is paying over a hundred a month so in comparison I have saved $3,600.00 or almost the cost of my slip fees for a year by stopping the dish charges. We also stopped our land line and save that too.
It seems that there are no new gadgets out there anymore, only dumber ones!
you have to invest $300 for this? if you’re happy with your provider, just stick with it…what if this company tanked…goodbye 300…
Yeah, I would want Fox News as no other network is brave enough to air programs 24/7/365 specifically designed to get Republicans elected.
299.00 for a box valued at 90.00, so its an additional 15 plus a month annually.. nice try guys…
I’m a beta tester for the past few months, and love Sezmi. It works, very convenient and there is seamless integration and GUI. Do not knock it until you try it. The price is great for what you get. My only gripe is that the selection of cable-type channels is limited, but for me it is just right.
I think that cable and satellite will eventually give away to broadcast and internet based TV in a hybrid mode. Sezmi, although not perfect , is a great start.
Here is something similar but it has a better channel lineup … Nuclius IPTV. Don’t confuse this with free IPTV. It’s the real deal designed to replace the cable companies. Stream HD programming directly to your TV. Choose a price plan or buy channels a la carte. Upscale internet TV channels like You Tube to look better on your TV. Browse the web on your TV. No wiring or cables. In the future it will work similar to a slingbox and you can watch your DVR content from your cell or laptop. You can even get it with a Blu-Ray player. No contracts or credit checks. This will completely change the industry…similar to what the cell phone did to the home phone or what Netflix did to the video stores. Website is http://www.nucliusiptv.net/