[mythtv-users] CableCards to Become Useless ???

[Joe Votour]

Quoting Greg Lake <greg12866 at nycap.rr.com>:

> Joe Votour wrote:

<snip>

>>
>>
> I don't get the point of having a cable card inserted in your stb?  Am i
> missing something?
> The only thing i can think of is, perhaps if you bought your own
> STB...Is that even possible?
> _______________________________________________

The original intent of CableCard was to provide a STB-independent  
method of accessing the digital cable content.  In order to "keep the  
cable companies in check", the FCC envisioned that there would be  
companies that would make compatible STBs.  (To an extent, this worked  
somewhat - there are TVs that will accept CableCards.)  You could then  
buy your choice of STB, or equivalent device.

But, the cable companies knew that CableCard was inherently flawed, so  
they were delaying mass-deployment.  The FCC, realizing that the cable  
companies were delaying, set repeated deadlines (which the cable  
companies missed), put forth a final requirement that the cable  
companies themselves had to use CableCard as an incentive to make it  
work.

The thing that a lot of people forget is that STBs are insanely  
expensive, and most people aren't willing to pay that much upfront.  A  
good example of this is TivoHD, or the Vista Media Center PCs.  Thus,  
the market for CableCard compatible devices is rather small.

-- Joe


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