Audio Video News

In anticipation of demand for new digital services, <A HREF="http://www.aoltimewarner.com/about/companies/twcable.html">Time Warner Cable</A> says it has committed to purchase 625,000 Explorer digital set-tops from <A HREF="http://www.scientificatlanta.com">Scientific-Atlanta</A>. Under the agreements, announced last week by SA, TWC says it will purchase a mix of Explorer set-tops and other head-end equipment to meet projected consumer demand for digital cable and interactive TV services such as video on demand (VOD), subscription video on demand (SVOD), personal video recording (PVR), and high definition television (HDTV).

Long noted for its non-participation in the rollout of digital television, the cable industry is now making conciliatory noises about supporting the new format. But even with its support, the changeover from analog is going to take a long time, according to recent statements from Robert Sachs, president of the <A HREF="http://www.ncta.com">National Cable Television Association</A> (NCTA).

The cable industry is under fire in Washington over its reluctance to embrace digital television, as well as over rate hikes that exceed the rate of inflation. Both problems have attracted the attention of legislators.

Television viewers in Southern California are among the first in the US to receive high definition signals via cable.

Following the DTV transition next February, cable systems will be required to carry broadcast channels, under a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals that upheld requirements of the Federal Communications Commission. Must-carry rules are nothing new. What is noteworthy here is that they will continue after the transition.

When analog over-the-air (OTA) broadcasting shuts down on February 17, 2009, analog cable subscribers probably won't notice thanks in part to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is requiring cable operators to carry local stations in both analog and digital format for three years after the OTA cutoff date. This has many major cable networks, such as C-SPAN, Discovery Communications, A&E, and The Weather Channel concerned that they will be pushed off cable systems to make room for the dual carriage. As a result, these and other cable programmers are suing to block the FCC from implementing the mandate.

Cable operators are complaining about package deals that junk up their systems with channels they don’t want.