cable TV going scrambled

[SwampDonkey]

Just heard that cable companies are going scrambled to cut back on piracy. One lady at the radio stadio (works there) said she got converted by the cable company and in her next bill she had a $400 bill, including 1 month advance payment for the TV service. She was not impressed. 

Now, I have predicted that it's only a matter of time with this new over the air digital TV we are converting to, it will soon follow the same path. There was no talk of it when everyone announced they had to go digital. But, I can bet it was just the first step. They just gave everyone time to get adjusted. To be clear, they have not announced anything about the free over the air TV. But you can bet it's on the way. Already, I can't get over the air Canadian TV, we have to all get cable or satellite up here unless your in certain cities. Not all analog towers are getting replaced. Some stations have not gone digital yet up here. But it will be the same fate. So, for the rest who still have free TV on local networks, you'll soon be paying (my prediction). Up here there isn't much for choice on cable and satellite, I've seen it. So I guess TV is about over and done with for me. The networks are scratching for every dime.

[scgargoyle]

I've been pretty unhappy since they went digital. It takes a MUCH stronger signal to get a picture. It seems like a ploy to get more people to sign up for cable or dish. If they want to charge for over-the-air, go ahead. I dropped newspapers because of the rising prices and diminished product, and I'll do the same with TV.

[SwampDonkey]

I live in sight of two digital towers. One is excellent and the other is 3 out of 5 bars and they changed it this fall to another tower, no better.

[jdonovan]

Out where I live, over the air TV is just about not receivable, unless you get a large antenna and an antenna mounted amp. And even then it can be iffy due to the rolling terrain around here. I'd hate to go through all the work, and then discover there is a hill a few miles away blocking my line of sight.

All our cable except the local over the air stations, and the 'news' type stations went scrambled many many years ago. Nice to see you all finally catching up.  :D

I'm amazed with the cost of TV + DVR crossing the $100/month mark that more content producers haven't' been moving more quickly to the internet based direct delivery to consumer model. At a $1, or $2 per 60 min episode I think I'd come out ahead just buying the shows I like individually.

[SwampDonkey]

That wouldn't work neither where I live. Anything other than dial-up has to be through tower or satellite. Tower would be too slow and satellite is throttled back to dial-up after so many Mbytes. The cost of phone and dial-up internet is just about caught up now to the power bill. It's now over $70 for a phone line and dial-up internet. In the summer the power bill is about $80. We are still back in 1995 as far as internet is concerned out in rural areas, and not 56k modem either, 28.8k. For 56k they want another $5. : The government subsidized the cable for everyone to be covered. But like many companies in the US they concentrated all the work in the urban centres and towns. They can run lines to rural areas that have border crossings, but can't serve everyone else on a side road. 

I guess to clarify, it's the local stations you get on cable that will be scrambled.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/12/04/cable-companies-will-soon-be-able-to-scramble-local-tv-signals/

[jdonovan]

I guess to clarify, it's the local stations you get on cable that will be scrambled.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/12/04/cable-companies-will-soon-be-able-to-scramble-local-tv-signals/

Ah but they have to supply 1, or 2 converter boxes for 2 years for free, then the fees kick in.

I'm glad I don't have 10 TV's around my house that would all need boxes.

My new 'country' place gets a total of Zero, over the air TV stations, no cable TV service there. Its either satalite, or nothing.

[doctorb]

Swamp-

We installed a new digital antenna in our Canadian cabin this year.  Picks up the bordering US stations and some Ottawa stations and the picture is pretty clear.  New antenna with signal booster was pricey, but the programing is free, which is why we selected that choice over a dish.  From what you're telling me, all that free programing is probably going away.  I will say that the picture is better now than with the standard analog reception we used to have.

[SwampDonkey]

Yes the picture is certainly better on digital signal. Simply because you either get the picture or not at all. There isn't much in between unless you want to argue about the fade in and out that leaves blocky pixels on the screen. ;D But there is none of the snow or the roll going on. Our satellite is pretty much the pits for programming. All you get is mostly 10 or 15 CBC and CTV stations from across the country on the basic package anything else is extra. By the time you pick your interests that include all whole bunch of stuff you don't want your well over $100. I will never be paying that for TV. It's almost reached the stage where I'm about to yank internet to. One more ridiculous hike for dial-up and that's going to be unplugged to.  >:(

[jdonovan]

  From what you're telling me, all that free programing is probably going away.  I will say that the picture is better now than with the standard analog reception we used to have.

Nope, over the air stays free.

What the FCC is changing is they now allow CABLE companies to scramble the local broadcast stations so you are forced to use one of the cable companies descrambler boxes.

[SwampDonkey]

Doc, as JD said. But now that we have digital, it's only a matter of time.

[shelbycharger400]

One thing that piths me off bout this digital junk is soon as a storm kicks up in the looming horizon, boom...all tv out!    I usto have over 13 reg channels, and at least that many digital,   seems even some of the digital channels faded away and are no longer their anymore either.  This all started up a few years ago , and found it out after complaining many times to t-mobile that their dead spots were growing. Well many complaints later one of them coughed up that a tower in the area they were using went bankrupt. Later talking to several other people, the tower also was used for local tv channels too.   Dont worry, Its bankrupt, but still standing their!  about 5 miles away on a large hill

[Shotgun]

  From what you're telling me, all that free programing is probably going away.  I will say that the picture is better now than with the standard analog reception we used to have.

Nope, over the air stays free.

What the FCC is changing is they now allow CABLE companies to scramble the local broadcast stations so you are forced to use one of the cable companies descrambler boxes.

And you'll need one of the boxes for each TV.  This will add another $10 or more per TV to your monthly bill.  The FCC has approved it and it is expected to occur in the near future, perhaps 6 months, or so.  Do a Google search for "encripted TV signal" if you want to learn more about it.  Bet there will be an uproar over this one.

Norm

[Jemclimber]

I sure wish the satellite programming was a la carte. I hate having to pay for a package deal just to get the 4 animal and discovery channels I want to watch.  There has to be a few hundred channels of garbage I never look at.