Reddit mentions of The Big Turnoff: Confessions of a TV-Addicted Mom Trying to Raise a TV-Free Kid

It's not quite what you're looking for, but I loved this book: The Big Turnoff: Confessions of a TV-Addicted Mom Trying to Raise a TV-Free Kid. It's the memoir of a woman who raised her child sans TV from the very start. She worried that it would keep him from bonding with other kids, but it didn't; I remember one episode in the book: she takes her son to a birthday party where all the other parents have parked their kids in front of a movie, and her son encourages the children to do something creative, like put on a play or something. As he got older, she tried to encourage him to watch an episode of an educational cartoon (Arthur, I think), and he didn't get it---her son just found the show inane (because it is). Even the woman herself started to perceive TV shows differently: she used to love TV, but after spending so much time away from it, finds it unsatisfying when she tries to revisit it.

Anyway, I don't know if it will help, but it might be worth reading. Remember that it doesn't have to be all or nothing: it is possible to significantly cut down television time without eliminating it completely (and therefore appease your husband by not getting rid of the "investment", or whatever). You could schedule a certain time (every day, every 2 or 3 days, once a week) for TV use; you could grant TV time as a reward; you could slowly decrease TV time over the span of weeks or months (which might make it easier for everyone to adjust).

Whatever you and your husband decide, I think reducing or eliminating TV time (for all but the most special of occasions, like a presidential inauguration or other age-appropriate events, or even Shark Week) is a great idea. The earlier you do it, the better---once the children are old enough to follow a series with an evolving plot (assuming that they aren't there yet), they will likely get hooked on certain shows, and then reducing TV time will be a war. Also, it is likely that the kids will have their own computers or video-capable cell phones when they are older, and if you curb the bad habit now, they may be less susceptible to TV addiction later.

I hope you and your husband are able to come to an agreement that works well for everyone and encourages positive development for the children. Best wishes to you and your family.