VentureBeat

Companies as large as Apple are trying to let you stream online video content to your TV, but a startup named ZeeVee is coming out with what could be a popular alternative. It is building a box that essentially lets you plug your computer into the television cable wiring already in your house, taking advantage of under-used cable wires to run content from your computer.

This enables high definition television on the web in a home entertainment system in the living room, where most people prefer to do serious TV-watching.

The technology is called “localcasting” and includes a touchpad and mouse so you can control your computer through the television. The Littleton, Mass. company calls its brand of it “ZvCast” — the question is if consumers think “Apple TV” and its ilk has a better ring.

The company is well on its way to market, and I for one would like to try it out. You can pre-order on Amazon. The release is slated for June 30, 2008 with a $500 price tag.

The field for these kinds of boxes is crowded. Competitors include Vudu, which sells a set-top box for buying or renting movies. Another rival is Sezmi, which plans to launch an all-in-one box — with access to over-the-air local channels and Internet movies — later this year.

ZeeVee has total funding in the “double-digit millions” according to VentureWire, which reports that it recently closed a round from Alpond Capital and JLL Ventures.