3 edits | reply to BF69
Re: problem with digital channels said by BF69:Each year Charter moves more and more channels to the digital tier. Which is fine that their choice except if they are still calling them EXPANDED BASIC that is basically a lie They do move more and more channels, because more and more people are complaining about not having enough HD or want faster internet. How do you make room for more HD? Move channels off analog to digital.
The reason these are encrypted, like others have already pointed out, is for security. If they were left unencrypted then customers who only pay for basic cable or internet could receive those channels as the frequency they are on is beyond a filter's range in most cases. Sure, you pay for those channels, but you also received the equipment to watch them. Since most TVs are not addressable devices unless they have a cable card slot, there is no other way to protect against theft.
If cable companies (ALL of them, not just Charter) didn't encrypt channels then everyone would get these channels whether they paid for them or not. There's a good chance everyone's bill would go up to cover the cost of the lost revenue due to unauthorized viewing, or there would no longer be a 'basic' tier. And frankly, the number of people who are upset by this issue are probably outnumbered 100,000 to 1 by those who would be upset by having their bill go up.
Until enough people are ready to give up analog and go all-digital, or 99% of people suddenly buy cable-card ready TVs, then this will not change. Try asking a satellite or Uverse customer how well their TV works without a box they got from their provider.
It's not fraud. You might feel it's BS, but it's fully disclosed and there is no deception involved. |
| For some people yes it is hard to understand, also if you read the sub-notes on your channel card the expanded basic digital only channels say set-top box may be required to recieve channels. |
