Comcast/Mythtv (OT?)

[Mark J. Dulcey]

Tom Metro wrote:
> ...
>> My worry is that this is a sign that they want to get rid
>> of their analog feed entirely...
> 
> Undoubtedly. As another poster pointed out, the cable companies don't 
> like having to retransmit the same stations in multiple formats. (SD 
> analog, SD digital, HD digital.)

It's not just that they don't like transmitting in multiple formats; 
they don't like transmitting in analog at all. Each analog channel takes 
a lot of spectrum on the cable; the same amount of space could be used 
to transmit anywhere from 4 to 10 digital channels. The pressure to 
carry more channels, and especially more HD channels, will likely cause 
all cable systems to drop analog in the near future; it's just not all 
that expensive for them to provide cable boxes to everybody, and they'll 
just include the expense in the next rate increase anyway.

If some consumer forces have their way, getting the cable companies to 
transmit more channels in clear QAM is also a lost cause. There is 
public pressure to get them to offer most channels "a la carte" instead 
of as part of bundles; if that happens the likely method of 
implementation is mandatory smart cable boxes, plus encrypted 
transmission of nearly all content. About the only things you'll get in 
the clear are local broadcast channels, local access (if it survives), 
any extra PBS content they choose to carry, shopping channels, and C-SPAN.

A better move might be to push for a standard control interface for 
interface between PVRs and cable boxes, so people won't have to fuss 
with stupid IR blasters and the like. The cable companies won't like 
that either, as they would rather sell you a PVR as well, but a public 
campaign (possibly with congressional and/or FCC involvement) might at 
least have some chance of gaining traction.