Comet: Blazing A SciFi Trail Across The Sky

by Paul Arnote (parnote)

You know how much I hate generalizations, especially when they pertain to a group of people. But from time to time, those generalizations are mostly true. Like these I'm about to "expose."

Linux users, as a whole, are looking for value. They are looking for security to go along with that value. And, a LOT of Linux users are especially fond of science and science fiction. I'm not exactly sure if that love of science and science fiction helps fuel the outsider view that Linux is geeky or nerdy, or if it just goes hand in hand with being geeky and nerdy. And so what if it does, either way.

Welcome a (relatively) new free (free usually equals value), over-the-air TV network, called Comet. It features nothing but science fiction programming, certain to tickle the fancy of any SciFi fan. I noticed it a little while back as a "new" channel on my cable TV lineup (Comcast/Xfinity). It can also be streamed via Roku, Apple TV, and Dish. They even have an app on the iOS App Store. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be one for Android ... yet.

From their "About" page:

COMET is a new television channel dedicated to sci-fi entertainment offering popular favorites, cult classics, and undiscovered gems, every day. Watch COMET and Space Out.

So, if you don't have any of those methods, you can simply watch the live feed from Comet on your computer or mobile device, by going here in your favorite browser. Or, once on their homepage, click on the "Watch Comet Live Now!" link at the upper left corner of the page. I've tried it in both Firefox and Google Chrome, so it should work with any of the major browsers. Midori, however, was a bust ... as in, it didn't work. An ad played (of course), and then I was stuck with a spinning circle waiting for the media to load and play, and it never would.

The list of shows the new channel features include Battlestar Galactica (the newer versions), Night Gallery (with Rod Serling), Quantum Leap, Sliders, Stargate SG-1, The Outer Limits, Babylon 5, and The Ray Bradbury Theater.

So what if they aren't necessarily the "latest" SciFi shows? They are all classics, and worthy of watching again. They also feature movies every month. Many of the movies (for the month of September, anyways) are the old Japanese Godzilla movies from the 1950s and 1960s (always fun fare!). The Japanese actor who played Godzilla in those movies from that era (dressed up in the costume) died just this past month at the age of 88 years old. Also included in September are some movies that I had never heard of before (most likely "B" run films).

I suspect, over time, and with wise programming choices, Comet TV will continue to grow and evolve. There are a literal TON of SciFi shows out there that are no longer in production and that no longer have an outlet. If their programming department can obtain the broadcast rights to those programs, Comet TV should continue to grow.

I do know that the website is viewable in the U.S. without any problems. Our fearless moderator scoundrel was able to watch it with no problem, using smartDNS, from Sweden, so that might be one way to circumvent GDPR restrictions many sites impose when viewing from the EU. Another answer to those experiencing blocks to viewing the content would include using a VPN server based in the U.S.

Frazelle09 tried to connect from Mexico. The first time, he attempted to connect while he was connected to a VPN server located in Canada. He got the screen pictured above. Then, he turned off his VPN, attempting to connect from his ISP in Mexico. He got the same results. So, out of curiosity, I changed my VPN server to one out of Southampton, UK, and then another one out of Austria. I also got the exact same message both times. But, changing it back to the U.S. based VPN server that I normally use, I was able to stream the "Watch Live" content without any problem. So, it appears that this is a U.S. only service, but one that is easily circumvented by using scoundrel's method of using smartDNS, or by using a U.S. based VPN server. If you're a U.S. based visitor, then, of course, you have no other "hoops" to jump through to view the live streaming of Comet TV's programming.

So, unleash your inner SciFi geek (c'mon ... you know it's in there!), and start watching some classic SciFi programming today, for free!