[mythtv-users] Will we ever have Clear QAM WAS: Seattle Times: Comcast to encrypt basic cable QAM channels

[Eric Sharkey]

On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 4:36 PM, James Crow <james at ultratans.com> wrote:
> What if the cable co left all
> expanded basic channels clear QAM they would have no way to prevent the
> users with basic cable from receiving the expanded basic channels. I do not
> know how their system works, but I think they need some way to prevent users
> from viewing material they do not pay for.

Yeah, that's what Cable Card was supposed to be.  It was going to be
this standardized piece of hardware that we could slip into any
digital tuner and the Cable Card hardware would provide the necessary
authorization and decryption and everything would "just work".  Your
tv would have a cable card slot, your HD Home Run would have a slot,
your PC based tuner would have a slot.  It would be like SIM cards in
GSM phones.

Only, they decided they didn't want that.  They want their external
box rental fees, they want to control the DVRs, they think all of
these extra hoops they make us jump through will ultimately increase
their revenue and that's really all that matters.

It's really frustrating and disappointing.

Eric