Now $499 at Costco with the coupons they just sent around. And free shipping online also.

I've often done the same math, and it doesn't quite add up yet -- for the $50 I am spending on cable, I can either watch unlimited shows and live sporting events, or I can watch no more than 25 pre-recorded shows a month. Clearly, cable beats iTunes for now.

I think the problem is the same as for movies. I don't need to "own" the TV show, just like I have no interest in owning the movie. All I want to do is watch it once.

I would prefer a model where I could "rent" a TV show for, say, 50 cents (a quarter of the normal $2 -- similar to how DVD rentals are typically $4, approximately a quarter of the typical $14.99 to buy).

Then I could watch 100 shows a month for the same price as my cable bill. If I could somehow get live sporting events streamed (yeah, right), then that could be enticing.

Chris, where did you get the info, "available immediately for $99 with contract". It's not on the vzw website that I can see. I called my local vzw store and they have no idea when they will be getting that phone, they said.