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- Newsgroups: triangle.general
- Path: sparky!uunet!concert!sas!mozart.unx.sas.com!sasdst
- From: sasdst@earl.unx.sas.com (David S. Tyree)
- Subject: Re: Cable TV and you
- Originator: sasdst@earl.unx.sas.com
- Sender: news@unx.sas.com (Noter of Newsworthy Events)
- Message-ID: <BxGwDB.DHv@unx.sas.com>
- Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 21:15:10 GMT
- Distribution: nc
- References: <17342@borg.cs.unc.edu> <sch.721332716@gargoyle>
- Nntp-Posting-Host: earl.unx.sas.com
- Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
- Lines: 79
-
-
- In article <sch.721332716@gargoyle>, sch@unx.sas.com (Steve Holzworth) writes:
- |> hardarso@weiss.cs.unc.edu (Kari Hardarson) writes:
- |>
- |>
- |> >I (being a Cablevision customer) received an insert with my latest
- |> >Cable bill. The headline reads: "If you are thinking of buying a new
- |> >VCR, beware of paying extra for one with the so-called 'VCR Plus+'
- |> >feature". It goes on to explain how this feature won't do you any good
- |> >because the VCR can't control your cable box. The insert ends by saying:
- |> >"Look for future messages from your cable company on this and similar
- |> >consumer issues".
- |>
- |> The above is true. Other useful things that cable screws over are:
- |>
- |> cable-ready (what an oxymoron) TVs.
- |> many "universal" remotes.
- |> almost always, the "record one, watch another channel" feature of VCRs
- |>
-
- Your "TV-within-a-TV" doesn't work with a cable box either.
-
- |> >It almost sounds like the cable company is doing people a favor by warning
- |> >about those unscrupulous VCR makers. I can't help but think that if
- |>
- |> Yeah, right.
- |>
- |> >the cable boxes weren't there, this VCR Plus system would work just
- |> >fine. And come to think of it, I would be able to program my VCR
- |> >to record a program into the week on a preselected channel, or watch
- |> >one channel while recording another, and I could use one remote control
- |> >instead of having to pay the Cable company extra to get a remote control
- |> >with the cable box (1-2$/month extra).
- |>
- |> This is true. Some systems, like Raleigh Cablevision, scramble ALL channels,
- |> so you MUST use their box to get ANYTHING (this may have changed - I doubt
- |> it though). Cary Cablevision (CVI) scrambles premium channels only. This
- |> is somewhat better because you don't need a box unless you get premium
- |> channels. I don't, so all of the VCR features are still useful. Note:
- |> Cary customers: CVI is currently proposing to do what Raleigh does, and
- |> scramble everything. This WILL RENDER YOUR VCR PROGRAMMING FEATURES USELESS.
- |> It is easier and CHEAPER for the cable companies to make you have a box.
-
- Where did you hear this? It is written into the franchise agreement with
- the Town of Cary that any company providing Cable TV must make its
- signals "Cable ready". And I beleive that if you only get HBO, they
- can descramble this at the pole, so you still would not need a box.
-
- |> The technology exists for them to block premium channels from your house
- |> "at the pole". They can still enable this from the local office, too, like
- |> they authorize your box now. BUT, it costs them more to do it this way.
- |> Since they have an *effective* monopoly, you can't pursue alternative
- |> methods.
-
- CVI can block any channel from your house (if you consider the
- programming offensive) I know MTV blocking is free, don't know
- about the others.
-
- |>
- |> >Why do we need those boxes on top of our TV? They look ugly, they
- |> >consume energy even when turned off (mine is always hotter than skin
- |> >temperature) and they complicate TV watching in general. Does anyone
- |> >know if they benefit the consumer in any way?
- |>
-
- Only if you want a premium channel, PAY-PER-VIEW, or do not have
- a cable ready TV/VCR, else, your paying for a restrictive device.
-
- |>
- |> stuff deleted
- |>
- --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- David S. Tyree SAS Institute Inc. sasdst@mvs.sas.com
- Publishing Programmer Analyst SAS Campus Drive (919) 677-8000 x7405
- Publications Services Cary, NC 27513 (919) 677-8123 FAX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The opinions expressed are my own and not those of SAS Institute Inc.,
- Town of Cary, State of North Carolina, United States of America, or Earth.
-