Every four years, much of the world comes together to compete in – and watch -- the Olympic games. Everyone on earth can catch this year's games online, with the exception of one group: Americans who don't have a subscription to cable TV.

NBC, which holds the U.S. rights to the games, is giving an Olympic-sized middle finger to a lot of households by offering the games online, but only to those with cable. I am one among a growing number of Americans who have given up their boxy television and watch content on their computers using services like Netflix streaming, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video.