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Georgiaboy8
join:2005-06-25
Savannah, GA

Georgiaboy8 to dsf72

Member

to dsf72

Re: Comcast Screws Basic Cable Subscribers

said by dsf72:

The FCC is making all cable companies be digital but there will be tv's with a digital tuners in theem by this time so people still will not be forced to have a box
Only "Broadcast Networks" will have to "broadcast" in digital. You know, those cable of being received OTA. Cable companies can still downconvert these to analog using analog converter boxes. This has nothing to do with cable companies, though it is, to an extent, a cable companies best interest to phase out analog.

PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD

PGHammer

Member

However, one known side-effect of the disappearance of analog OTA is the demotion of analog of any sort. FACT: more and more PEG channels in Comcast-served areas are being sent as digital (not analog) signals, especially in ADS areas such as Prince George's County, Maryland (my own home county). FACT: Scripps-Howard Cable Networks (one of the largest non-sports basic/expanded-cable programming sources, and the owners of Food Network, DIY, HGTV, etc.) will be going all-HD/all-digital by 2010. FACT: While availability of CableCARD support in new TV models has actually *dropped* in 2006 vs. 2005 (the first year that has occurred), the number of new TV models supporting HDMI (and the number of HDMI outlets per TV) has gone up in 2006 (again, vs. 2005). Case in point: Hitachi has actually *standardized* on three HDMI outlets in *all* of their FPTV models. FACT: Sales of non-CRT TVs have come their closest to beating CRT TV sales in 2006, led by dropping prices for FPTVs of all types (especially LCD, plasma, and DLP screentypes), and, in fact, are on pace to outstrip CRT TV sales in 2007 (two years ahead of schedule). (Source: Gartner Group and the CEA.)
Analog (as a delivery medium) is about to die. The FCC and NAB know it, and so do the cable and satellite companies. Even the CEA has gotten a clue. To think otherwise is to stick your head in the sand.