For all of the disgruntled cable TV customers out there, it's now possible to disconnect the cable box without giving TV thanks to the latest improvements in technology. Live TV on PC can now replicate much of what you'd be getting via your cable subscription for significantly less money. Perhaps due to this fact, the number of cable TV and satellite subscriptions fell last year for the first time in the history of the business.

If you are willing to put up with a little hassle, you can connect a laptop directly to your TV. It is not the most convenient solution because you'll have to fuss with a computer connected to your TV, but you'll only need to purchase a cheap HDMI cable to be able to watch any Internet video that's available via your browser.

In a deal that will result in personalized online TV channels that can command premium rates from advertisers, online video search firm Blinkx is buying online ad network Burst Media. Online advertising has been the fastest growing segment of the overall ad market in the UK, with online video ads running before and after video clips commanding the highest prices from marketers.

Blinkx said the deal would give it access to Burst's audience of over 130 million unique users and its partnerships with more than 1,000 niche websites. This is important because advertisers are willing to pay much higher sums if the ad is directed at an audience known to be interested in a certain product or subject. The acquisition will allow Blinkx to potentially reach hundreds of millions of users, and also draw more of the TV ad budget online.

According to a recent research report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 30,000 pensioners with vision disability will be benefited through from these Digital TV Set Top Boxes. Trial run for the talking digital TV is already under way in the Victorian region through prototypes from companies like Hills Techlife, Skybridge & Bush.

© Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com