No Satellite on Series 3

Advertisements

yeah... We all knew it to be FACT back in January.

 

I know OTA HD can be great. And the Series 3 TiVo supports it along with cable. There aer TWO inputs. One is antenna. The other is cable.

This is all FACT. None of it is rumor.

 

Not quite.

Comcast has restructured their website so I can no longer link to all of Comcast's On Demand listings at once. But here's their search page. There is a huge amount of On Demand available; many movies and programs are free. Pick a Network/Genre, or Category, such as "Free Movies"! (Make sure not to inadvertently select Network/Genre and a Category at the same time.)

 

I get / watch OnDemand content that isn't available on any linear channels (or, isn't available on any channels I subscribe to).

Some examples ...

NFL Network - Weekly game replays / summaries are available free On Demand. To sub to the linear channel I'd have to pay for the 'Digital Sports Tier'.

Nick Jr, Noggin, PBS Sprout - For the kids. Some are in the 'Digital Discovery Tier', and some are in the 'Digital Variety Tier' both of which I'd have to pay extra for. But, shows from each are available free via On Demand. Also, PBS Sprout On Demand carries a fair amount of content that isn't available on the linear PBS Sprout channel (or regular PBS).

National Geographic - Again, in the 'Digital Discovery Tier', but content available free On Demand.

USA Network - Ok, yes I get USA via 'expanded basic' ... it was just cool to see the Monk / Psych premiers a week early.

Cnet - The same Cnet content available via Tivo downloads is available On Demand, but not on any linear channel I know of.

Etc.

I don't know why people always think of On Demand as just a subset of linear content. It's not. Ultimately, alot of content will be available both via a linear channel(s) and On Demand ... some will only be available via linear channels ... some will only be available On Demand ...

Some other examples that I don't watch / subscribe to ...

Howerd Stern On Demand - no linear channel equivalent
Anime Network On Demand - no linear channel equivalent
here! On Demand - no linear channel equivalent
WWE 24/7 On Demand - no linear channel equivalent
etc.

Oh yah, and kinda cool ... my cable company puts the local town council meetings On Demand. Yes, these are available on the regular government access channel ... but ... Tivo doesn't have any guide data for them so it's a PITA to set up recordings and alot of times you don't hear that something of interest will be discussed untill the day after in the papers. If you didn't record it you can still pull it up On Demand.

 

Advertisements

Even when the content IS a subset of linear channels, it's still good for people that may only have a single tuner TiVo (can help with conflict resolution), or as a way to get into a show that you are not currently recording via TiVo. Watch an episode or two, then maybe you may want to add an SP for it. Then, maybe you can catch up from the OnDemand content.

 

I didn't realize how cool OnDemand was either until I played with my brother's for a couple of days during a visit. It's like Tivo, if you've never had it, you don't realize what you're missing.

 

Unfortunately, virtually none of it is available in HD, and outside of FiOS, no cable provider is likely to have a comprehensive HDTV VOD service in the next two years.

 

This is sad. Y'all are picking up what Comcast is laying down. All cablecos are evil. They'll be even more evil if new programming is available only through VOD.

VOD is great for those who don't have DVRs. If you have a DVR and you are using it properly it's overflowing with more than enough shows, rendering a VOD "feature" worthless.

 

Sig Heil!

 

Really? If you plug it straight into a TV (or vcr or Tivo), you get NO channels?

 

Plus, you'll get the unencrypted digital "broadcast" channels (QAM), correct? Haven't others said that these are required to be carried, just like the analog broadcast stations?

 

assuming the cable company actually sends the QAM digital (HD) channels for people with extended basic (analog) lineup, then yes.

My cable company does not. Maybe you are lucky and yours does.

 

Basically. For Cablevision in NY you may get the shopping network and some public access, but nothing you would want to watch on analog. I think it has been like this for about a year. They have replaced all analog boxes with digital boxes

I'm also not sure if there is a law that you have to send broadcast QAM clean (I haven't seen any link to this law). Where I am, FOX comes QAM unencrypted and some other stuff, but again very little that you would want to watch. I wouldn't rely on being able to get clear QAM from your cable provider.

 

I just moved to a Comcast area from a Cablevision town.

With Cablevision (in NJ), even though I had digital cable, I could plug a regular old TV into the wall and still get channels up to like 68 (including MTV, USA, BET, etc.).

With my new Comcast digital service, if I do the same, I only get my local stations (plus BET on channel 14, for some strange reason). I think they have a filter or something at the node for the houses here that they remove if you pay for "extended basic" - which allows you to see most regular cable channels.

So even if you are paying for a higher tier, you may not get what you expect. Best to check with your cable company first.

 

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/2001/fcc01022.pdf

It isn't really a "law" but more of a rule. It is entirely possible that Cablevision is facing "effective competition" and is allowed to encrypt the digital locals.

Another odd (but believable) interpretation says that this rule only applies to "digital must carry." So, if the cable system carries the analog version of the channel this rule is null and void.

 

I didn't know the FCC posted here. Can we PM them about CC2.0?

 

As I read it, this doesn't mean that you need to send stations clear QAM-- it only means that you have to have a basic tier of service. I think the statute is concerned with price and service while many of us are concerned with technology as well.

You could still require a box to receive the basic tier. For example, in an apartment I used to live in in NYC, there was a basic tier of analog service carrying just the networks (I think it was $9.99 per month). To get this basic tier still required an analog box. You could not use a cable ready tv or VCR.

 

You are absolutely right, but most areas don't require boxes for their basic aka "lifeline" tier so to comply they would either have to require boxes for their basic level of service or provide the signal in the clear.

I can't seem to find it, but the document I referenced above seems to imply that the basic tier cost is regulated. So most cable cos would probably not be too interested in having to provide a STB for everyone subbing to the basic service while keeping the cost limited to (for example) $9.99 per month. I say most because it seems that people in the NY area must use a STB to get cable due to cable theft and so cable cos are motivated to providing STBs.

If most cable cos don't want to provide STBs for all basic tier customers, then they must provide the digital locals in the clear, unless they face competition or they aren't must carry stations.

So like I said before, it is a rule up to interpretation. You can ask your cable co why they don't provide the digital locals in the clear, but don't expect to be able to change their mind on the subject.

 

Hitler?! Who said anything about Hitler?!

 

Vell, I dun't necessarily vant to create a furor over dis...but still it rubs wrong when you tell me how I must use my DVR "properly".