What’s a TV Antenna?

I haven’t had cable in more than a decade. That fact used to make me a fringe element- but now it means I’m hip.

High Tech TV Antenna

But we knew that all along.

A recent Wall Street Journal article chronicled this rise in over-the-air viewing (link below). Web-enabled devices are changing the way TV works. And people are realizing they don’t have to pay someone to make them a slave to their boob tube.

Favorite shows can now be watched when you want to watch them. Those willing to wait a little can enjoy their favorite series en masse instead of waiting a week to see the next episode. All while pocketing the cash usually budgeted for the monthly cable bill.

Eventually the real winners in all this will be local broadcasters. Assuming there are any left. Ironic when you consider just a few years ago the Internet was predicted to bury television as we know it.

Over the years regional and local content has been virtually annihilated by the propagation of satellite and cable TV. And most locals are doing their best to use the new digital channels as mini-cable networks, or at worst weather displays. The smart stations will stop trying to mimic Oprah and leverage digital channels for targeted, local content.

Over-the-Air TV Catches Second Wind, Aided by Web