For about four years I have been using MythTV, which is a software package that records and plays back television shows.  Installing and configuring this package is not for the technology-challenged, and I have it working on a small Shuttle computer with a tv-tuner card and large hard disk.

I rarely see live television since MythTV has the ability to find and remove commercials and I always prefer to watch television without commercials.  I have three young children, and I have recorded hundreds of educational shows for kids (e.g. Magic School Bus, Zula Patrol) all without commercials.

Although we do not yet own a high-definition television (I know – we’re in the dark ages), I purchased a HDHomeRun device that converts unencrypted digital television signals into an ethernet-based UDP stream.  Since all television cable providers must provide unencrypted access to local digital channels, I can now record and playback high-definition shows recorded in MythTV to my laptop.

And converting any show or movie to an iPhone or iPod Touch compatible movie is as simple as running a script and then loading it into iTunes for syncing.  Long car trips are more than tolerable for our family when we can just hand an iPod Touch to a child which has a Backyardigans or Thomas the Tank Engine show on it.  And no need for another remote control – I can control MythTV from my iPhone or wireless iPod Touch.

And here’s one of the best features:  there is no monthly fee that Time Warner, Comcast, and DISH charge for PVR rental.  I do pay $20/year for access to an online television schedule, so I guess my licensing cost is a whopping 5¢/day.