Comcast/Mythtv (OT?)

[Jerry Feldman]

AFAIK, All cable companies are required by the FCC to continue to=20
support the basic TV subscribers either by continuing to broadcast=20
analog or by providing a free digital box to their subscribers. The news =

item below was from a year ago, and he cable companies are pushing back=20
a bit, but the bottom line is they must support their basic cable=20
customers. The issue is that they are broadcasting analog, digital and=20
HD for a number of stations. I do know that Comcast no longer broadcasts =

TruTV and MSNBC analog. Some cable companies are dropping analog=20
altogether and providing free digtal boxes to analog subscribers.

Fox News 9/2007:

*WASHINGTON  =E2=80=94  The Federal Communications Commission approved ru=
les=20
Tuesday night that it says will ensure that millions of cable=20
subscribers will still be able to watch broadcast programming after the=20
digital television transition in 2009.*

The FCC says approximately 40 million households are analog-only cable=20
subscribers. Tuesday's ruling will require cable operators to guarantee=20
analog cable customers will receive broadcast channels until February 201=
2.


Here is what Comcast says online:


    If you have Comcast Cable, you=E2=80=99re ready already for the Digit=
al
    Transition.

If all your TVs are currently connected to Comcast, you don't have to=20
worry about a thing. When February 17, 2009 rolls around, you can just=20
sit back, relax and keep watching your favorite shows.


On 11/24/2008 10:09 AM, Bill Bogstad wrote:
> This is slightly off-topic, but does involve Linux...
>
> I've got a KnoppMyth Linux system running with two analog tuners
> connected to my Comcast cable with a MediaMVP settop box for display
> purposes.  The whole thing has a good WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).
> Unfortunately something in my latest Comcast bill is worrying.
> Starting soon (end of the year?), they will have new cheap Digital
> only TV feeds
> which are considerably cheaper then the current full analog feed.
> They also say they will no longer accept new customers for their
> 'Standard Cable' (full analog feed) at the
> same time.  My worry is that this is a sign that they want to get rid
> of their analog feed entirely which will break my current setup.  I
> don't currently have a QAM tuner so
> I have no idea what channels are available as unencrypted digital, but
> my guess from web surfing is not many.
>
> My questions are:
>
> * If you have a QAM tuner on Comcast in the local area (Cambridge
> would be best), what channels do you see in the clear?
>
> * I believe that Comcast has switched all digital in other parts of
> the country.  Anybody with experience/insight into how long my current
> setup will be grandfathered in?
>
> * What are my options for encrypted QAM and Mythtv?  (Note: I'm
> currently SD only and HD would be nice, but not a requirement.)
>
> * Anybody else see this insert in their Comcast bill?  Is this the
> whole area or just a Cambridge thing?
>
> Thanks,
> Bill Bogstad
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss-mNDKBlG2WHs at public.gmane.org
> http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>  =20


--=20
Jerry Feldman <gaf-mNDKBlG2WHs at public.gmane.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id: 537C5846
PGP Key fingerprint: 3D1B 8377 A3C0 A5F2 ECBB  CA3B 4607 4319 537C 5846