Sezmi to Compete With Cable and Satellite TV

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How much HD content can you broadcast and pump through the Internet in comparison to the quantity that satellite and cable offer? To save what, a couple of bucks? Most subscribers opt for the bigger channel, movie and sports packages so they have greater choice anyway. Can I get HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, or Movie Channel? What about small audience niche programming - say Living With Ed or One Way Out? And what about they going to do about the fact that most Internet providers are now throttling down bandwidth on high use customers? And as to "live TV" - what's the big deal - my TVs can get local, live TV without a fancy set-top box or even an antenna - some demo! How are they going to cover an area like where I live, semi-rural Tennessee (just outside of Nashville.) What a turkey! And why is it that any criticism is responded to with the line "disgruntled ex-employees"? Sounds like Sezmi front men responding. What I'd like to know that no one talks about is what exciting new features will I get from their DVR? Does it compensate for the inadequacies of the present offerings? Or will I have to pay $300 for a first effort box that is at best no more sophisticated then what is available from anyone else?

Joel Kachinsky of TN 10:33AM March 15, 2009

Dave,
Why not contact Sezmi and do as these folks suggest? Maybe contact his company and see if they would let you play with a box for a while. It might actually silence the critics. I am one who appreciates when someone tells it like it is. However, bloggers who did not hold an actual remote in Vegas at this year's CES as some of us did, continue to contend that the live demo was canned and that the product does not work. Those of us who did, were able to change channels on live TV, watch YouTube videos and even rent a movie. It looks cool. There are other companies though with just as much technology and gadgetry. I'm not sure which is the best but I support the challenge of competition to the major players.
What I find ridiculous is what sounds like unfortunately laid off employees trying to retaliate agains their former employer with baseless accusations. Again, when a good number of us have seen and interacted with the product its hard to take some of these comments at face value.
If you can get your hands on a box and let us know your thoughts - I think it would help a great deal.

Anonymous of NY 1:24PM February 17, 2009

david,
you are a nice sucker, believing what you see in a demo. i guess that madoff story will repeat many times more.
simply put it, sezmi cheated investor money big time. recent round of funding is mainly from existing investors. It's like a liar's poker game, after they bet on the flop, they were suckered in in the "turn". there stupid suckers don't know how to fold until they see the 'river" card which will be another sucker:)
anyway, to easy way to verify if its stuff works or not is:
1) ask for a demo unit so that you can play with it. then you will know for sure. not just a magic show in Las vegas.
2) ask if it has any potential clients ever tested its products. then ask for talking to these clients for references.

gupta of CA 8:48PM February 14, 2009

after 2 years development and $50 investor's money, it never produced any working model.
Simply stated, its stuff does not work.
Its clients have asked fro demo unit. It can deliver none. it does not have a working unit.

rich of CA 8:40PM February 14, 2009

Hi,
I am interested in your post. I would be curious to hear a little more detail.
All companies fight with each other that is totally normal. In what way is it acutally not working? It seemed to work when I saw a demo of it. The team is also pretty legit in terms of what they have done in the past, and they also raised another round of funding. All these things point to the fact that they might be legit.
I am not trying to call you out or say you are wrong, would just like some more details on your claim.

david of CA 5:21PM February 12, 2009

this company has lied to investors and cheated them about $40 millions. not bad for a fraud. Its product never worked after more than 2 years development. It may never work.
Even within such a tiny company, 2 offices in Florida and California keep fighting. Management is so dysfunctional to solve any problem.
major fraud. Investors may sue these jokers.

dtv of CA 7:38PM February 11, 2009

Give me programming other than infomercials after 8 p.m..........some of us work the night shift and don't want the tivo expense.
Give me channels that don't have commercials every five minutes
Give me movies and shows that don't have popup trailers along the bottom of the screen to distract me throughout the show I'm trying to enjoy.
Give me sound that doesn't treat me like an idiot that doesn't know you hike the decibals to an obnoxiously loud level for your commercial accounts. It's annoying as hell.
Day after day I look at the four channels I watch religiously, curse the trailers and commercials chronically interrupting my viewing experience and the complete lack of late night programming and say, "I can't believe I actually PAY for this abuse". Even pay per view is showing two year old movies. How many times do we have to chose between Lethal Weapon and Erin Brokovich? The state of television offerings is disgusting.
I remember when Friday and Saturday nights were prime time to view some great shows............now it's impossible to watch anything but repeats 80% of the year. The industry should be ashamed of itself for the money extorted to get a decent picture and view absolutely nothing. Even HGTV, History Channel and Discovery have paid programming after their "prime" hours. For Shame!

Shelly Hunt of NY 1:26PM July 23, 2008