Comcast's On-Demand Online TV Streaming - a Mixed Bag Sentiment

There are a plethora of locations where we can watch TV online, legally -- Fancast.com, Hulu.com, Tv.com, and dozens of network channels that bring us everything from primetime TV, old TV classics, and obscure fan favorites. Additionally, we have pay-to-play services, like Netflix.com, which offers a decent-sized library of blockbuster movies, popular TV shows, and everything-else titles, for a low monthly fee with no other requisites than a high-speed internet connection. While more online media, especially when it is essentially free or low-cost, is always welcome -- is Comcast really going to deliver a service that people are going to buy into?

The "TV Everywhere" project, a joint venture of sorts with Comcast taking the lead, and Time Warner -- another massive player in the Cable TV / Media services game -- brainstorming from the sidelines, aims to deliver streaming media to cable TV subscribers via their high-speed internet connection. However, the very problem with the service is in its description -- "free" or low-cost online content provided to cable TV subscribers.

In every state, and nearly every city that offers cable television services -- people complain about the prices of basic cable and the digital upgrade packages that are offered. With choices for online TV viewing increasing, especially when many TV shows, from broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC to cable networks like USA, Comedy Central, and TBS -- are freely available, people are abandoning their expensive cable TV packages and opting for the free-to-low-cost media that can be found on the internet. People don't want their cable TV bill -- they want freedom from it.

Granted, Comcast has put together an impressive lineup for the trial -- some 300 movies from Starz's lineup, titles from TNT and TBS through Time Warner, as well as titles from A&E, BBC, E!, the Sudance Channel, and now -- CBS -- there is a lot to like about the trial's lineup. Should the trial prove successful, there is a great chance that more networks, broadcast and cable, will jump on board, making Comcast's On-Demand Online service one of the most comprehensive online TV viewing services available.

All of that said -- as of right now, Comcast's online TV services are still reporting as requiring an active cable TV package, and one of their high-speed internet packages. Having access to all of your favorite TV shows, and movies, on the internet is a huge convenience, and for many of us-- a way to save money on our monthly cable TV bills. I'm not sure if Comcast's trial will pan out, but one thing I know for sure -- I'm not going to re-start my basic cable subscription to watch CSI or Lie to Me -- I can already watch those shows online -- for free.