KK, not sure if Bob and I are talking exactly the same thing or not, but ....
There are a few internet services that provide video...basically for free and with a computer/personal DVR to record and/or watch connected to your HD TV then no need for DirecTV or Cable or other pay services. Of course not everything is available.
Things like hulu and others.
I could watch my local news in HD just over the air. And if I could get BBCA, Nova, Nature, etc. I'd be set.