Moving to Zurich, Switzerland next month (will be there 2 years) and there
are only 3 English language tv stations (cnn, cnbc, bbcprime)
available. How can I access the most US (or at least English language)
tv stations and what do I need to do? TV over net any good? Satellite
dish?

If you have a friend with Hi Speed BroadBand and a TV Tuner Card
remaining in the US...
You could set up ORB (www.orb.com) and watch his signal for free on
your HI Speed Broad Band Connection there!

Link : http://www.orb.com/what_is_orb/orb_tv/

www.slingmedia.com
their site says: "enables you to watch your TV programming from
wherever you are by turning virtually any Internet-connected PC into
your personal TV. Whether you?re in another room or in another
country, you?ll always have access to your television."

PC World Review of ORB: http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,120581,00.asp
C|net Review of ORB: http://reviews.cnet.com/Orb/4505-9239_7-31338425-2.html?tag=sub

Here is the Slingbox review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sling_Media_Slingbox/4505-6463_7-31423815-2.html?tag=sub

Less techie...

Either way you are tying up a tuner...either one hooked to the sling
(could be a VCR in a buddies basement!) or a PC with the Graphics
card.

For only streaming with no taping required..go with the
slingbox...less possible crashes!

If you want something a bit less complex, Sky (British Sky
Broadcasting) can be accessed throughout Europe. They carry most US
drama on Sky One, E4, Paramount and Fox, not long after it airs in the
US. For instance the new series of 24 starts this Sunday. Also for US
sports it is your only option. Sky Sports carries the NFL and NASN
carries most other sports.

I doubt they will do your installation in Switzerland but you can
definitely get a viewing card if you can pay someone to hang a
satellite dish for you. Visit www.sky.com for more info.

I was trying to find a LEGAL method!

Sorry canadianhelper, but I can't imagine rebroadcasting someone
else's pay TV signal to another country is in any way legal, and I'm
not sure why you think paying for a proper satellite contract would
not be legal.

Since we are talking about Switzerland...I would bet a nice hot chocolate that
Switzerland Satelitte companies have some power over the legality of
someone using grey market Satelitte (as far as I can see Sky is not
legally available in Switzerland) but I doubt they have a law against
streaming video.

Yes...it may be 'illegal' from the US side but that is not where the
watching is taking place!

BTW...being from Canada we have been using grey market techniques to
get Direct TV and XM and Sirius and it is illegal to have those
recievers here but I haven't seen anyone getting in trouble for
receiving a streamed signal...that is the mindset I had when
answering!