NewTeeVee, part of the GigaOM network, has done a video review of the Channel Master TV, aka CM-7400, and they pretty much panned it for the same issues I pointed out in my two previous posts. Basically the high price ($400) for a unit with few features, and the additional $50 annual fee for guide data. For the price it needs more features, or it needs a lower price for what it is.
As I’ve said before, TiVo is a better value for cord cutters. A TiVo Premiere with lifetime is $600, which is what the Channel Master TV will cost for four years of use – and TiVo has way more features. Or you can go monthly for just $10/month if you use TiVo with antenna only. Break it down; let’s call the $50/year fee $4.17/month. So $400 + $4.17x = $100 + $10x, or $300 = $5.83x or x = 51.45. That’s 51.45 months, or 4.29 years, before TiVo catches up to the cost of Channel Master TV and starts to cost more with the monthly option. Edit: Oops, Dave Zatz pointed out in a comment that the $10/month deal ended last week.
