We're not quite done determining how to get the same content from other sources, but we've hit the wall with CableCo frustration, so we're canceling the service and returning the gear.

While watching a DVR'd show, as it approached the exciting conclusion, our CableCo DVR interrupted us with a notice that we're not subscribed to DVR service. The show stopped in the background, turning the display black, with just the ominous warning message. We've seen similar messages at other times, too, so we weren't initially upset at anything more than the interruption. In the past, it usually happens while channel-surfing live television, or more often when switching between the last channels watched (skipping commercials, for example). At those times, the message warns we're not subscribed to that channel. Sometimes this does interrupt the feed while watching the channel.

We grumbled, grabbed the remote, closed the message, and hit the menu. The recorded shows were listed, so we re-selected the one we were watching, but the DVR wouldn't start again. We switched to another channel, which is how we have to clear the other messages, only to find the no-show persisted. We were recording two shows in the background, and while both appeared in the DVR menu, neither displayed on the screen.

I cycled the power (with the button), blasting past the "can't turn it off while recording" message (a heinous change from before, when it didn't need to be "on" to record). Cycling the tuner back on brought back the picture, but didn't restart the recordings. I set those back to recording, and again tried to re-start the DVR'd show. Same thing, minus the message; just the black screen and no show. Tried different shows, same thing. Turned back to the recording, same thing.

I tried re-cycling a half-dozen times, trying the same and different shows. Even tried the show I had moments before started recording. Same thing. Every time I started a DVR show, the screen would go black, the display would show we're at the beginning and the duration and time-bar as normal, but no show, no movement, no sound. Changing to a different channel and the same no-show.

I finally set the recordings for the current show (just in case it works itself out later), and turned the AV set-up to use the Roku. The wife called the CableCo and after chatting with them a little bit, including declining a weak $15-off for a while offer, she told them to cut the cable at the end of our paid-for time.

Here's hoping and knocking on wood that they just cancel the television service. We do get CableCo Internet service, but because I host web and other services from my home office, I was compelled some time ago to get the SOHO service, so it's billed as a small business, not a residential account. Whenever we call (including this last time), they offer to bundle for us, but the residential doesn't technically allow serving web and mail and so on, and I've got a bit more speed (usually) than the offers for residential service. Since they often can't tell that we have the service, I'm fearful that come turn-off day, we'll loose both the television and Internet.

I set forth with a mission to find the shows we watch, and specifically the one we were watching, on the Roku. It's a little disappointing how much current content is missing.

I'm about to run out of my trial subscription to Hulu+. I'll probably keep it and pay the $8 or whatever each month. It's different enough from Hulu on PC that I might throw together a home-theater PC just to get PC-only content, though. Someone seems to think that devices like the Roku or AppleTV or GoogleTV aren't "computer" enough to be covered under whatever licence agreements they worked out originally. Further, they haven't worked out a TV-device license for everything, either.

I also tapped into the free trial of Amazon Prime, which listed the show, but evidently the bulk of the current shows we watch aren't available in their free service, but instead come trough at a couple bucks an episode.

I'm not sure how or why these yahoos (no relation to the web service) treat the devices so differently. With a browser you can get to almost all of those shows a day or so after they air (which is usually when we watch them anyway). They have little commercial interruptions, and we don't mind. You can't even fast-forward through them, and we still don't mind too much. I'm sure there are enough people that think differently and pony the buck or few an episode, so they're making direct money, or they've trapped themselves making exclusive agreements with some service (like iTunes or Amazon or whatever), so they can't offer it otherwise.

It seems if you want to wait for this season's shows to be last season's shows, or pay extortion rates for them, or set up a home-theater PC, you're good to go. If you want to rely on the current content providers, though, you're kind of borked for content, and either have to suffer with the limited broadcast, or pay CableCo or SatelliteCo for their feeds an equipment.

Depending on how the next week goes, and the results of some research (and playing withHTPCs), we might re-sign with CableCo, but only for CableCards that we'll plug into a TiVo that we'll have to purchase. Really, I blame the software in the CableCo gear for our recent woes. Previous woes I blame on other hardware changes. Generally, I don't mind the offerings they have, and the service in general. Unlike we've experienced watching SatelliteCo at other places, CableCo video doesn't get too messed up during bad weather.