Okay, here's where I'm arriving in my thinking. The situation is what it is. I don't necessarily agree that abandoning the satellite and going to IPTV goes against Bob Sr.'s dream. Just maybe Bob Sr. would agree in 2007 that satellite service needed to be discontinued and that the new IPTV technology that didn't even exist in his lifetime was a good option for this time. I think it has been tough for DirecTV and Dish to succeed in the satellite market -- it is probably just too expensive for a small provider like SA to make it long-term in the satellite biz. I've expected for some time that SA would end its service.
It is most unfortunate that some will not be able to subscribe to IPTV. And it is very possible SA will try the new platform and fail and anyone who jumps on-board at the beginning will lose the investment in equipment. But, again, it is what it is. The consumer decides if it is worth the risk. I truly don't think SA had much choice about throwing in the towel on the satellite service -- it was inevitable.
I spend more than $130/mo. on cable and high-speed Internet. I know many can't do that. I retired in May and looked forward to SA being an important part of my days at home. Without it, I would fight the temptation to waste time on cable TV. With it, I can choose to be fed by God's Word all day long. I know many cannot afford high-speed Internet and the equipment/monthly fee for IPTV. I do know that a coworker who lives way out in the boondocks told me that there are options for high-speed for people who live in rural areas -- but they are more expensive. I am weighing the option of reducing the $$ I spend on secular cable and putting those dollars on SA. I have not made a decision yet. Frankly, I am a tecchie and enjoy trying out new technology.
I have spent considerable time finding out what I can do to replace SA without IPTV. Truthfully, I can, for the most part -- but I do need my high-speed Internet to do it. I recognize that subscribing to SA IPTV (for me) isn't so much about what channels I can get - I can get most of them on-line. It is about convenience, consolidation, being able to control what I watch (or listen to on radio) and when I watch/listen to it. I tried out TBN's on-line player last night and loved having one-click access to their channels, program guides, favorites, etc. THAT is what I would be paying for if I chose the IPTV box (or even just having it on my computer, which I believe will be an option - would not need to buy a box to do that). I know myself well enough to know that I would be lazy about accessing programming if I had to go to my computer and click-click-click every time I wanted to access a program.
Years ago, my husband, a pharmacist, lost a long-time job when the retail store he'd worked at for many years closed. He spent days moping and saying he wanted things to be the way they were. Once he accepted that he no longer had that option, he went on to land the very best job he ever had.
It is what it is. And maybe what it is will turn out to be okay. I don't mean to come across as unsympathetic to those who can't do the IPTV. But if I can, who loses if I choose not to just because I am angry? Hopefully, those of you who can't do SA will go to Glorystar and find it wonderful. Or if you do have high-speed Internet, you can view a lot of content free on-line.
