What day did it become available?
Was a box required?
How many channels were available?
Was a box required?
How many channels were available?
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When Cable TV first debuted in your town....
- Thread starter willdav713
- Start date
Cannot remember the date...do remember it came to my town in 1965.
There were no cable boxes back then...just a two lead VHF antenna wire which provided local and far away channels that could not be picked up by an outside antenna.
Most (if not all) cable companies as such had only channels 2 through 13...with a local channel dedicated to local weather information...provided by a B&W camera going back and forth showing the local time clock,barometer,temperature gauge,etc. Usually a local radio station's FM audio was rebroadcast. No cable system considered UHF channels.
There was no Warner,Viacom or Centel back then....All cable companies were locally owned operations. That started to change however in the 1970s. A typical cable bill in my locality was $10 or $15 monthly.
There were no cable boxes back then...just a two lead VHF antenna wire which provided local and far away channels that could not be picked up by an outside antenna.
Most (if not all) cable companies as such had only channels 2 through 13...with a local channel dedicated to local weather information...provided by a B&W camera going back and forth showing the local time clock,barometer,temperature gauge,etc. Usually a local radio station's FM audio was rebroadcast. No cable system considered UHF channels.
There was no Warner,Viacom or Centel back then....All cable companies were locally owned operations. That started to change however in the 1970s. A typical cable bill in my locality was $10 or $15 monthly.
N
nocomradio
Guest
Reston, VA got cable around its inception in 1968 or 69 if memory serves me correctly. I didn't live there but had friends who did and they raved about it at the time. No box was required then, but later on into the 70's they did require a box as the channel lineup expanded.
A little further out in the suburbs where I lived, we didn't see cable TV until around 1985 when Media General installed the infrastructure all over Fairfax County. They had boxes, but I cannot remember the brand. I know they had a habit of locking up occasionally and needing to be reset from the MG headquarters. There were 120 channels available on those boxes, with probably half used at the time. By the time I left the area in the late 90's the lineup was getting full.
A little further out in the suburbs where I lived, we didn't see cable TV until around 1985 when Media General installed the infrastructure all over Fairfax County. They had boxes, but I cannot remember the brand. I know they had a habit of locking up occasionally and needing to be reset from the MG headquarters. There were 120 channels available on those boxes, with probably half used at the time. By the time I left the area in the late 90's the lineup was getting full.
The earliest that my house had cable was in April of 1981, with United Cable here in New Britain, CT. It was a wired brown box with 12 click buttons on three levels, along with a fine tuning dial on the right side (made by Jerrold). The top row was for channels 2 to 13, middle was 14 to 25 and the third was for 26 to 37. HBO was on 14, The Movie Channel on 15 and Escapade (adult) was on 16 (we had The Movie Channel for a while). Those three channels were switched from something on the telephone pole outside. We still had that old brown box in our possession until the mid-90s. Analog customers could get HBO on cable channel 14 until as late as 2009! (I subscribed to it and had a converter in my bedroom. Since it was "open" for my floor, the second TV was able to get HBO with no box!
As for other early cable here, I seem to remember my grandparents having it in their apartment (same city as me) as early as 1977-78. Outside of the few locals, we received WWOR-TV, WPIX-TV and WSBK-TV. I think we even received channel 5 from New York when they were still independent WNEW-TV! By 1989, on my second go-around with cable, channel 5 was long gone, with WWOR, WPIX and WSBK still showing up (WPIX was removed on July 1, 1990, due to Syndex).
As for other early cable here, I seem to remember my grandparents having it in their apartment (same city as me) as early as 1977-78. Outside of the few locals, we received WWOR-TV, WPIX-TV and WSBK-TV. I think we even received channel 5 from New York when they were still independent WNEW-TV! By 1989, on my second go-around with cable, channel 5 was long gone, with WWOR, WPIX and WSBK still showing up (WPIX was removed on July 1, 1990, due to Syndex).
I also remember the pre-HBO, pre-TBS cable days, when cable was called "Community Antenna Television," and just as Limp described, there was the one channel with the camera that panned back and forth across a clock, thermometer, and rotating PSAs/ads.
I recall the early companies in our area: Clearview Cable, Teleprompter Cable (later Group W Cable) and Storer Cable.
I recall the early companies in our area: Clearview Cable, Teleprompter Cable (later Group W Cable) and Storer Cable.
F
FreddyE1977
Guest
The City of Pittsburgh was late to the party on cable (though most of the surrounding suburbs had
it by the late 70's). I think the first city neighborhood was wired in 1980 and where I lived we did
not get it till mid-82. Largely this was due to political bickering and infighting.
The City had the right to award the cable franchise, so of course all of the requisite kickbacks and payoffs to local politicians had to be put in place first. And our local old-school machine pols played the cable companies like a fiddle. They also held out for absurd things, like individual public access channels for each particular area of the city. Also the committee which held hearings and deliberated on this decision was chaired by a Catholic Monk, whose primary concern seemed to be keeping porn and other unwholesome content off of the system.
When we finally got it it was the old Warner Qube system. Two tiers with two individual cables which
I think went up to 84 channels. It did offer the Qube interactive games and features which were cool and
ahead of their time. Certainly more advanced than any neighboring suburban system.
it by the late 70's). I think the first city neighborhood was wired in 1980 and where I lived we did
not get it till mid-82. Largely this was due to political bickering and infighting.
The City had the right to award the cable franchise, so of course all of the requisite kickbacks and payoffs to local politicians had to be put in place first. And our local old-school machine pols played the cable companies like a fiddle. They also held out for absurd things, like individual public access channels for each particular area of the city. Also the committee which held hearings and deliberated on this decision was chaired by a Catholic Monk, whose primary concern seemed to be keeping porn and other unwholesome content off of the system.
When we finally got it it was the old Warner Qube system. Two tiers with two individual cables which
I think went up to 84 channels. It did offer the Qube interactive games and features which were cool and
ahead of their time. Certainly more advanced than any neighboring suburban system.
Looks like it was September 27, 1976 in Spokane, with a total of fifteen channels:
"As approved by the City Council, Cox may charge $9.95 for an installation fee and a monthly fee of $5.95 for the service. Installation includes placement of a channel selection box on a TV set, Pierce said."
http://spokanetvhistory.wordpress.com/1976/09/27/cable-tv-starts-here/
"As approved by the City Council, Cox may charge $9.95 for an installation fee and a monthly fee of $5.95 for the service. Installation includes placement of a channel selection box on a TV set, Pierce said."
http://spokanetvhistory.wordpress.com/1976/09/27/cable-tv-starts-here/
I'll try to remember..this is from when we first got cable in the mid-late 70's in Western New York:
2-WGRZ Buffalo (NBC)
3-Global Toronto, later local origination.
4 WIVB Buffalo (CBS)
5 HBO (was on a tap system...remove a filter outside and you got HBO).
6 CBLT Toronto (CBC)
7 WKBW Buffalo (ABC)
8 WNED Buffalo (PBS)
9 CFTO Toronto (CTV)
10 WOR New York (Ind.)
11 CHCH Hamilton, ONT (Ind.)
12 WPIX New York (Ind.)
13 WUTV Buffalo (Ind.)
IIRC You could opt for a cable box (w/analog dial) for additional pay channels (Showtime among them).
2-WGRZ Buffalo (NBC)
3-Global Toronto, later local origination.
4 WIVB Buffalo (CBS)
5 HBO (was on a tap system...remove a filter outside and you got HBO).
6 CBLT Toronto (CBC)
7 WKBW Buffalo (ABC)
8 WNED Buffalo (PBS)
9 CFTO Toronto (CTV)
10 WOR New York (Ind.)
11 CHCH Hamilton, ONT (Ind.)
12 WPIX New York (Ind.)
13 WUTV Buffalo (Ind.)
IIRC You could opt for a cable box (w/analog dial) for additional pay channels (Showtime among them).
M
Marckd
Guest
Sussex County NJ got cable back in 1963. It was Garden State Cable TV. This area is 60 miles from New York City and 90 miles from Philadelphia - 12 channels all filled
1965 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-KYW TV Philadelphia NBC
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Weather Clocks
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-WCAU TV Philadelphia CBS
11-WPIX Ind.
12-WHYY Philadelphia PBS/Weather Clocks
13-WNDT PBS
1971 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-KYW TV Philadelphia NBC
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Weather Clocks playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-WCAU TV Philadelphia CBS
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
1976 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-52 WNJT Trenton PBS/KYW TV Philadelphia NBC during hours WNJT was not on the air
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Weather Clocks playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-WCAU TV Philadelphia CBS
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
With Cable Box
18 - Home Box Office
19 - 48 WKBS TV Ind full-time
20 - Weather Clocks full-time
21 - 3 KYW TV NBC Philadelphia full-time
22 - 29 WTAF Philadelphia Ind.
1977 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-52 WNJT Trenton PBS/KYW TV Philadelphia NBC during hours WNJT was not on the air
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Reuters News playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-29 WTAF Philadelphia Ind.
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
With Cable Box
17 - Reuters News Full-time with WRFM playing
18 - Home Box Office
19 - 48 WKBS TV Ind full-time
20 - Weather Clocks full-time
21 - 3 KYW TV NBC Philadelphia full-time
22 - 10 WCAU TV CBS Philadelphia
1980 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-58 WNJB New Brunswick PBS/Reuters News with WRFM when NJN is off the air
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-ESPN (shared with C Span March to August)
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Reuters News playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-29 WTAF Philadelphia Ind.
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
With Cable Box
15 - Reuters News Full-time with WRFM playing
16 - Weather Clocks full-time
17 - 6 WPVI ABC Philadelphia
18 - Home Box Office
19 - 48 WKBS TV Ind full-time
20 - 17 WPHL Ind Full time
21 - 3 KYW TV NBC Philadelphia
22 - 10 WCAU TV CBS Philadelphia
23 - C Span
In 1982 Garden State sells to Service Electric - gradually lineup expands to 27 channels by 1984, 36 by 1986, 50 by 1989, 60 by 1995, 70 by 2000, 100 by 2003, hundreds by 2005 (if you buy everything - average package with basic digital is about 120 channels) Box not required for analog channels and they offer about 60 of those now.
1965 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-KYW TV Philadelphia NBC
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Weather Clocks
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-WCAU TV Philadelphia CBS
11-WPIX Ind.
12-WHYY Philadelphia PBS/Weather Clocks
13-WNDT PBS
1971 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-KYW TV Philadelphia NBC
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Weather Clocks playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-WCAU TV Philadelphia CBS
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
1976 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-52 WNJT Trenton PBS/KYW TV Philadelphia NBC during hours WNJT was not on the air
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Weather Clocks playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-WCAU TV Philadelphia CBS
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
With Cable Box
18 - Home Box Office
19 - 48 WKBS TV Ind full-time
20 - Weather Clocks full-time
21 - 3 KYW TV NBC Philadelphia full-time
22 - 29 WTAF Philadelphia Ind.
1977 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-52 WNJT Trenton PBS/KYW TV Philadelphia NBC during hours WNJT was not on the air
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-WPVI Philadelphia ABC
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Reuters News playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-29 WTAF Philadelphia Ind.
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
With Cable Box
17 - Reuters News Full-time with WRFM playing
18 - Home Box Office
19 - 48 WKBS TV Ind full-time
20 - Weather Clocks full-time
21 - 3 KYW TV NBC Philadelphia full-time
22 - 10 WCAU TV CBS Philadelphia
1980 lineup
2-WCBS TV CBS
3-58 WNJB New Brunswick PBS/Reuters News with WRFM when NJN is off the air
4 WNBC TV NBC
5-WNEW TV Ind.
6-ESPN (shared with C Span March to August)
7-WABC TV ABC
8-Reuters News playing WRFM New York (Easy Listening instrumentals and some vocals) before 11 AM
after 11 AM 17 WPHL Philadelphia (Ind.)
9-WOR TV Ind.
10-29 WTAF Philadelphia Ind.
11-WPIX Ind.
12-Weather Clocks until Noon - 48 WKBS Philadelphia from Noon on (10 AM on Sundays)
13-WNET PBS
With Cable Box
15 - Reuters News Full-time with WRFM playing
16 - Weather Clocks full-time
17 - 6 WPVI ABC Philadelphia
18 - Home Box Office
19 - 48 WKBS TV Ind full-time
20 - 17 WPHL Ind Full time
21 - 3 KYW TV NBC Philadelphia
22 - 10 WCAU TV CBS Philadelphia
23 - C Span
In 1982 Garden State sells to Service Electric - gradually lineup expands to 27 channels by 1984, 36 by 1986, 50 by 1989, 60 by 1995, 70 by 2000, 100 by 2003, hundreds by 2005 (if you buy everything - average package with basic digital is about 120 channels) Box not required for analog channels and they offer about 60 of those now.
Well I know San Antonio's Rogers Cable had the following in 1986
Basic Service Tier
2-11
13
15
17
19-22
Super-station Package (extra $2) a month
12 WTBS
18 WGN
Premium Package (No Addressable Converter Required)
14 HBO
16 Showtime
(About $20 each plus wall drop fee, a tech would have to come out and fix the filter on the pole a trip charge a drop fee would apply) However, No Expanded Service was necessary and you could receive these channels on all sets.
Additional Cable Outlet Monthly Charge $2 (deemed illegal in 1992, almost 10 years later from Ma Bell charging for each phone jack on a monthly basis)
Expanded
22-36
40 (Daytime Only), 41 (Daytime Only) 43-44
Addressable Converter Required
38 Disney
39 Cinemax
40 First Choice PPV II (Nighttime Only)
41 Playboy (Nighttime Only)
42 The Movie Channel
98 First Choice I
99 First Choice II/ Rendezvous Theater (Adult) Nighttime only
You could receive HBO and Showtime without the cable box until 2003.
Basic Service Tier
2-11
13
15
17
19-22
Super-station Package (extra $2) a month
12 WTBS
18 WGN
Premium Package (No Addressable Converter Required)
14 HBO
16 Showtime
(About $20 each plus wall drop fee, a tech would have to come out and fix the filter on the pole a trip charge a drop fee would apply) However, No Expanded Service was necessary and you could receive these channels on all sets.
Additional Cable Outlet Monthly Charge $2 (deemed illegal in 1992, almost 10 years later from Ma Bell charging for each phone jack on a monthly basis)
Expanded
22-36
40 (Daytime Only), 41 (Daytime Only) 43-44
Addressable Converter Required
38 Disney
39 Cinemax
40 First Choice PPV II (Nighttime Only)
41 Playboy (Nighttime Only)
42 The Movie Channel
98 First Choice I
99 First Choice II/ Rendezvous Theater (Adult) Nighttime only
You could receive HBO and Showtime without the cable box until 2003.
- Status