Podcast #1275: Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector?

On today's show we ask if you "Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector?" And we look at the five most streamed TV shows in the US per Nielsen. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.

News:

Streamers are running about 18% more ads, and viewers haven't revolted yet DirecTV now lets you build your own Multiview with up to four sports channels Cheap LCD TVs could be in trouble for Black Friday as panel makers raise prices Netflix is laying off about 1,000 employees, roughly 6% of its staff Deal: LG's 55-inch C6 OLED drops to $999.99, half its $2,000 list price Netflix beats on earnings, but its stock slides on a softer revenue and ad outlook Other:

Amazon.com: NCIS Caf Pow White Mug - Officially Licensed - 11 oz : Home & Kitchen   Hackers are hijacking Plex servers to mine crypto. Update ASAP This Week's Five Most-streamed TV Shows in the US Here are this week's five most-streamed TV shows in the US, from Nielsen's Streaming Top 10 for Sept 28 to Oct 4. That's the newest week Nielsen has posted.

Wonka's The Golden Ticket (Netflix) had 1.078 billion minutes. It jumped to No. 1 in its second week, up 26% (The Hollywood Reporter). The Big Bang Theory (HBO Max) had 953 million minutes and was once again the top show streaming outside its original network. East of Eden (Netflix) had 782 million minutes in just four days. It's Florence Pugh's Steinbeck limited series (The Data Stream). SpongeBob SquarePants (Paramount+) had 767 million minutes, spread across 336 episodes. Ted Lasso (Apple TV) had 750 million minutes. That's down 11%, but it stayed in the top five heading into its season four finale. Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector? This week a listener who goes by Mr Eye sent us a YouTube video titled: "I SOLD My Flatscreen (and I'm NEVER Going Back)." In it, Kirk from the "Tech It Before You Wreck It" channel sets up XGIMI's new Aura 3 Max ultra-short-throw (UST) laser projector, first in his TV room and then in his bedroom, where it replaces a flat screen sitting on his dresser. He says the picture was watchable even in broad daylight with the shades open, and it passed what he calls the "wife test," because there's no big black rectangle on the dresser when it's off.

That got us talking, because Ara is seriously thinking about shopping for a UST projector next year for his basement Media Room. This got us thinking, is this the year a laser projector can actually replace your TV, or is large format TV the way to go?