I have had cable for....ummmm... 6-7 or so years. It was restricted to channels 1-99. About 4-5 years ago, I got a converter box that gave me access to some more channels above 100, but I seldom went above the 111 area, and only rarely to some free movie channels in the 140-160 range. I remembered that I had a listing I got in the mail that showed the layout....so I dug it out of a drawer. Turns out HBO is 301. I do not PAY for HBO, so it is usually blanked out for me. Because no one (that *I* usually listen to) was willing to admit where the 'free' broadcast was, I had to be clever in locating it. (I am fairly clever, so I saw the broadcast). Others have noted the mixed blessing and availability of this program. Had I not had broadband, I could not have easily watched it on the computer...(as Art Thieme notes) ..had I not had that converter box, I could not have watched it on TV.
   There are many, many who had neither broadband internet NOR cable TV...which makes HBO's 'gift' a bit shallow, if you ask me.

Now, I wonder...if HBO bought the 'rights' to broadcast a free concert, who had the authority to SELL those rights? And why would they? I am fine... I saw it... I even downloaded the Pete Seeger part I wanted, but something smells funny.
   What I really believe is that there were just too many big stars involved for someone to not "make a buck" off the event. Unlike Gov. Rod Blago... 'someone' had better connections and had better sense than to just do a blatant sales job. What HBO did was no doubt officially legal, but then, so was giving bonuses to the CEOs who ran Shearson and their pals....

Who, me? Cynical? naawwwwww....