With OTA All-Digital, Will Cable Soon Follow?

[Joey1986]

With analog over-the-air TV gone (except for LPTVs, Class As and translators), how much longer for this world is analog cable (in markets where it still exists)? I know that in some, but not all, markets, cable has already gone digital-only (except for local channels and public, educational, and government access channels). But will analog cable ever completely go bye-bye?

 

[dave73]

With analog over-the-air TV gone (except for LPTVs, Class As and translators), how much longer for this world is analog cable (in markets where it still exists)? I know that in some, but not all, markets, cable has already gone digital-only (except for local channels and public, educational, and government access channels). But will analog cable ever completely go bye-bye?

Some Comcast systems in Chicagoland have already gone all-digital, with the rest of them phasing out analog cable between March & September. In my area, Comcast refused to signup new customers to analog cable, and any customer who upgraded to digital cable couldn't go back. The FCC may have mandated cable systems to keep basic analog service, but my local Comcast however hasn't done that. I'm not sure how much longer it'll be before analog cable is terminated in my area, as I only have OTA TV. I don't know what the policy on this from RCN & WOW in Chicagoland, but those 2 don't serve the entire market, and those 2 don't offer service to my area.

 

[w9wi]

With analog over-the-air TV gone (except for LPTVs, Class As and translators), how much longer for this world is analog cable (in markets where it still exists)? I know that in some, but not all, markets, cable has already gone digital-only (except for local channels and public, educational, and government access channels). But will analog cable ever completely go bye-bye?

Some Comcast systems in Chicagoland have already gone all-digital, with the rest of them phasing out analog cable between March & September. In my area, Comcast refused to signup new customers to analog cable, and any customer who upgraded to digital cable couldn't go back. The FCC may have mandated cable systems to keep basic analog service, but my local Comcast however hasn't done that. I'm not sure how much longer it'll be before analog cable is terminated in my area, as I only have OTA TV. I don't know what the policy on this from RCN & WOW in Chicagoland, but those 2 don't serve the entire market, and those 2 don't offer service to my area.

The FCC mandate was that must-carry signals (mostly, OTA stations) continue to be available to analog subscribers without additional charge. Most systems are complying by keeping their analog systems running. But it's also legal to comply by providing free digital boxes to analog subscribers. (those boxes need only deliver the must-carry signals)

There is a sunset on that requirement, a point at which cable can drop analog service without regard to whether analog subscribers will have to rent digital boxes. Though I would not be at all surprised if the FCC extends the requirement.

I do sense that cable systems are not putting much effort into maintaining their analog plant.

 

[DToTheJ]

With analog over-the-air TV gone (except for LPTVs, Class As and translators), how much longer for this world is analog cable (in markets where it still exists)? I know that in some, but not all, markets, cable has already gone digital-only (except for local channels and public, educational, and government access channels). But will analog cable ever completely go bye-bye?

Some Comcast systems in Chicagoland have already gone all-digital, with the rest of them phasing out analog cable between March & September. In my area, Comcast refused to signup new customers to analog cable, and any customer who upgraded to digital cable couldn't go back. The FCC may have mandated cable systems to keep basic analog service, but my local Comcast however hasn't done that. I'm not sure how much longer it'll be before analog cable is terminated in my area, as I only have OTA TV. I don't know what the policy on this from RCN & WOW in Chicagoland, but those 2 don't serve the entire market, and those 2 don't offer service to my area.

The FCC mandate was that must-carry signals (mostly, OTA stations) continue to be available to analog subscribers without additional charge. Most systems are complying by keeping their analog systems running. But it's also legal to comply by providing free digital boxes to analog subscribers. (those boxes need only deliver the must-carry signals)

There is a sunset on that requirement, a point at which cable can drop analog service without regard to whether analog subscribers will have to rent digital boxes. Though I would not be at all surprised if the FCC extends the requirement.

I do sense that cable systems are not putting much effort into maintaining their analog plant.

Am I the only one who thinks it's annoying when someone quotes the very last post on a thread - which shouldn't be necessary if it's the very last post on a thread? Sorry for being OT, but just look at how cluttered this thread is and it's only four posts.

 

[w9wi]

Am I the only one who thinks it's annoying when someone quotes the very last post on a thread - which shouldn't be necessary if it's the very last post on a thread?

I apologize for not removing all the quoted material except the part I was actually replying to (as above). I usually do that but was in a hurry... never a good excuse...

I do think it's important to quote the concept one is replying to. It's often not obvious from context.

 

[dave73]

With analog over-the-air TV gone (except for LPTVs, Class As and translators), how much longer for this world is analog cable (in markets where it still exists)? I know that in some, but not all, markets, cable has already gone digital-only (except for local channels and public, educational, and government access channels). But will analog cable ever completely go bye-bye?

Some Comcast systems in Chicagoland have already gone all-digital, with the rest of them phasing out analog cable between March & September. In my area, Comcast refused to signup new customers to analog cable, and any customer who upgraded to digital cable couldn't go back. The FCC may have mandated cable systems to keep basic analog service, but my local Comcast however hasn't done that. I'm not sure how much longer it'll be before analog cable is terminated in my area, as I only have OTA TV. I don't know what the policy on this from RCN & WOW in Chicagoland, but those 2 don't serve the entire market, and those 2 don't offer service to my area.

The FCC mandate was that must-carry signals (mostly, OTA stations) continue to be available to analog subscribers without additional charge. Most systems are complying by keeping their analog systems running. But it's also legal to comply by providing free digital boxes to analog subscribers. (those boxes need only deliver the must-carry signals)

There is a sunset on that requirement, a point at which cable can drop analog service without regard to whether analog subscribers will have to rent digital boxes. Though I would not be at all surprised if the FCC extends the requirement.

I do sense that cable systems are not putting much effort into maintaining their analog plant.

When I saw this story on one of my local news broadcasts, they mentioned that cable was all digital in select suburbs. I see that only the local channels will be on analog (only main channels, but not subchannels), but all other channels (including any systems carrying local subchannels & main channels in HD) are on digital cable. I wouldn't be surprised if Comcast tries to shutoff analog cable sooner than the FCC mandate. Here's a link to the story from the Southtown newspaper site (a Suntime suburban newspaper). I couldn't find the story on the WGN & ABC7Chicago websites (the news shows I watch the most).