Comcast Joins Others In Ditching Analog > Even less excuse to cap

Even less excuse to cap

I saw this coming. And I doubt that the providers will be 'giving' any new hardware for free. They will drive all subscribers to digital set top boxes and charge for those even though they are required to receive programming.

I understand the benefits of an all-digital system, but the current ads I see on TW telling the current analog customer that nothing will change when digital starts are misleading, or will apply for a very short time.

direct and dish witch are all digital charge for extra boxes to. all provider include one cable box in the package.

reply to Don Slade
Yeah, if Time Warner was to ditch analog transmission over their network, their customers would need a basic converter.

But TW, like Comcast (at least around here) scrambles all but broadcast basic anyway so customers were already forced to have cable boxes if they wanted any "cable" channels.

TWC is just clarifying that the cable equipment you have (analog and digital boxes) will work when OTA analog broadcasts stop.

reply to jj26

reply to Dogfather
TW has had the first 70 or so channels in the basic expanded package unscrambled here for over 10 years. Guess it depends on the market. That will of course change in a couple years.

reply to jj26
The Cable Co's offer the same digital channels and more. Remember the telco's and dish do not have majority of the locals...

reply to Don Slade

reply to hamburglar_
In my market, TWC got the cable system as part of that trade deal with Comcast. Comcast had scrambled it shortly after buying it from ATTB.

reply to Don Slade
You'd have to be blind NOT to see it coming as it's been in plain sight for .. oh, I dunno... ever?

But it's amazing you saw this coming but you don't know much about the dongle that is being developed now. The dongle, which should retail for about $20 (So, yes, they won't give anything away) will allow a limited amount of channels to be tuned in analog with out a need for the actually set top tuner.

But, your assertion that the move to drive people into renting boxes is about as old as the fact that consumers can actually purchase their own converters or cable card ready sets. while choices may currently be limited, they still exist.

I say let the digital transition happen, it's time to evolve. Cable TV, in my opinion, still remains a luxury. The fact that people want to hook up room after room after room is one of those things that defines those who have from those who have not. (Yea.. painful to hear, I know, but I'm one that doesn't believe everyone is equal when it comes to finances) When cable first came out, and the model was set, families actually sat down and watched TV. Most people never had TV in the bedroom, much less each and everyone. People have long got a break on being able to hook up each TV without fee's.. and to be honest, I'm not worried about that. BUT, as things move forward and we evolve to the next generation systems, so comes the price. People are going to have to buck up and pay for what they get. The old saying of "Well, I've always gotten it for free" isn't something that means anything - times change. Yea, I admit my views are harsh, but I stand behind them and believe that people have to make choices. Having 5 TVs hooked up are simply going to cost people, to some degree, OR they are going to have to made choices that best fit their needs.

On a side topic, I can see that the need to rush to the separable security was as important as ever... we're damn near 1 year past the mandate and the suppliers / manufacturers are just cramming the retail shelves with 'em. The consumer has benefited leaps and bounds in the first year. /sarcasm

reply to Dogfather

You're right
docsis uses 4 chaneel for 171mbit, 121mbit
or 8 channel 322mbit/121mbit
insane speed... you are right
these guy are getting more geedy all the time
always saying limited bandwidth and playing user for any slowdown... deceptive, shady, misleading.

reply to dvd536
Shhhhhh, you'll upset the cable shills kissasses advocates.

reply to Dogfather