Questions about digital cable and the future of television.

[PaulKTF]

Hi everyone,

I have some questions about the future of cable...

1. With Digital Cable now widly avalable, will this spell the end of analog cable anytime soon?

2. Will there ever be a time when Digital Cable doesn't require the decoder box? Will there be Digital Cable-ready TVs like there are cable-ready TVs now? That would be wonderful. The set top box is the main reason I don't have Digital Cable right now- I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to record shows with my VCR because it would be sort of complicated. Righit now with analog cable, all I have to do is turn the TV to channel 3, turn on the VCR, program it, and shut off the VCR. But I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work that easily with a DIgital Cable box..  :confused:

3. By 2006, will Off The AIr television (VHF/UHF) be dead, thus meaning the only way I can watch television is if I subscribe to cable or satellite? :bang: That'd be awful, since obviously not everyone can afford those options...

Thanks for helping clueless me. :bow:

[Kevin Arnold]

I don't think they'll pull the plug on analog cable anytime soon. There are way too many tv's in kitchens under cabinets, in bedrooms, rec rooms and the like that would need a cable box in order to operate if they pulled the plug. Until TV's have a new cable ready tuner capable of tuning in the digital channels I don't think there will be any changes. TW offers there most basic service which is the OTA channels plus some public service channels. That service doesn't require a box now.

Don't worry about losing free TV in 2006 or later. The only thing that will change is that you will need either a new set top box to receive the signal or a new tv with a new tuner in it. There will always be free tv but remember, you get what you pay for.

[Gregg Lengling]

Originally posted by PaulKTF
2. Will there ever be a time when Digital Cable doesn't require the decoder box? Will there be Digital Cable-ready TVs like there are cable-ready TVs now? That would be wonderful. The set top box is the main reason I don't have Digital Cable right now- I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to record shows with my VCR because it would be sort of complicated. Righit now with analog cable, all I have to do is turn the TV to channel 3, turn on the VCR, program it, and shut off the VCR. But I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work that easily with a DIgital Cable box..  :confused:

3. By 2006, will Off The AIr television (VHF/UHF) be dead, thus meaning the only way I can watch television is if I subscribe to cable or satellite? :bang: That'd be awful, since obviously not everyone can afford those options...

Thanks for helping clueless me. :bow:

There are already TV's on the market with Digital Cable Tuners in them...they also are building them with a slot for a card from the cable company to get the advanced PPV's ect.  

The 2006 deadline is for analog TV not digital and by that time STB's for OTA will be fairly inexpensive for those not buying new TV's with Digital Receivers.