Necessary Cable subscription options?

[SteveLgBch]

I just got a Series 3, and while it is awesome with off the air HD, I thought I might want some cable. I've never had cable, and don't know what you have to "pay" for. I only want more HD programming maybe HD movies, and am not interested in news or sports or cooking or SD movies, etc. When I look at my neighborhood cable provider (Charter) they have some packages and options. Do I need to buy their basic channel lineup, or pay for their box, or other things. Is there a basic cable to your house charge? I know there would be a cable card charge and a HD channel charge. Do I have to buy the entire HBO package just to get HD movies? I stopped my DirectTV service because I never watched it and I don't feel like paying for programs I'll never watch. Looked like it would be about $60 a month for the basic, and if I wanted HBO, close to $90 a month. I just want the little bit of HD they offer!

So when I call them, can I ask for the HD basics (plus movies, maybe) or do I have to go along with their packages? Can I just choose cable to my house, HD programming, cable cards, and that's it? No box, no cooking, no news?

Thanks.

[mattack]

You need 'digital cable' before you get any HD package, most likely.

However, you can get the OTA channels over the cable too (useful if you can't get them all OTA), and that's with the basic package (i.e. no digital package).

To get HBO you would need the digital cable package... I think you need to ask more specific questions, one/a few at a time..

[gastrof]

I just got a Series 3, and while it is awesome with off the air HD, I thought I might want some cable. I've never had cable, and don't know what you have to "pay" for. I only want more HD programming maybe HD movies, and am not interested in news or sports or cooking or SD movies, etc. When I look at my neighborhood cable provider (Charter) they have some packages and options. Do I need to buy their basic channel lineup, or pay for their box, or other things. Is there a basic cable to your house charge? I know there would be a cable card charge and a HD channel charge. Do I have to buy the entire HBO package just to get HD movies? I stopped my DirectTV service because I never watched it and I don't feel like paying for programs I'll never watch. Looked like it would be about $60 a month for the basic, and if I wanted HBO, close to $90 a month. I just want the little bit of HD they offer!

So when I call them, can I ask for the HD basics (plus movies, maybe) or do I have to go along with their packages? Can I just choose cable to my house, HD programming, cable cards, and that's it? No box, no cooking, no news?

Thanks.


To be honest, since we don't even know what cable service(s?) operate in your area, Steve, it'd be hard for us to tell you what they do and don't offer. Even the biggies vary in their offerings from one area to another, and you could have more than one option where you live. (In my area, we have THREE cable companies.)

You'd really have to ask locally just what their packages are, what they require you to have in order to get this or that, etc.