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With the advent of digital TV, a whole new set of channels has been created that you can’t pick up on an HDTV without a set-top box. You can’t even get the digital TV versions of the regular broadcast channels over cable without paying extra for “digital service.” I’m not talking about HBO or pay-per-view; I’m talking about ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX.

So, you have to pay extra for “digital service” and rent a box just to get the digital versions of the previously low end channels. You have to rent a set-top box for every TV, even if you are getting the baseline digital service.

Will this continue after 2009 when the analog channels finally go silent? In other words, will you need a set-top box in every room just for the regular stations? This is a new, hidden fee, and its pretty significant.

Actually, there is digital broadcast TV available, and if you have a TV with a digital tuner, which is becoming more and more prevalent, you won't need the "set top box." It's just like what we all went through before there were TVs with "cable ready" tuners. The set top boxes are only needed for old analog only TVs, or for premium services.

But right now (in many markets, like the KC area) you can go out and buy a new TV with a digital tuner, and a new antenna, and start watching local channels in digital, and in many cases HD.

Mark

I realize that you can get over the air digital, and will continue to be able to get broadcast digital after the transition. Sets are now equipped for that.

My complaint was that the cable companies don’t make any of that available without extra service charges and a forced per-TV box rental. None of the HDTV signals that are available over the air can be picked up on cable without special box rental. Its a sneaky way to profit from the transition.

Ebay has digital HDTV tuners. About 70$. Over the air and the reception is excellent

KEYWORD = HISENSE

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=hisense&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fgtp=

There are relatively few broadcast channels however. It is an appealing option for the local channels.

Another significant problem with cable/satelite tv is the bundling of the dvr and signal. There is a real opportunity for convergence between computing and entertainment that is stymied because digital tuners on a pc cannot unscramble the digital tv signal. The cable/sat companies do not want anything that makes it easier for a customer to switch services. If this practice were the norm in internet service, you would have to get a new computer everytime you switched internet service.