I know analog TV will be gone in '09 What's going to happen to cable and satellite TV?

Question

Right now cable companies are constantly moving channels from the analog cable TV to digital cable TV (digital boxes) When 2009 comes, will cable TV change? I know will all have cable boxes by then, but what about the channels?. Will the channel setup lineup be like Directv or Dish Network ch. 100-999?

Answer 1

http://www.dtvspeak.com is the website set up by the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) to help spread the CORRECT information about the digital transition in 2009.

If you currently pay for your television service via cable, satellite, or a phone company (AT&T, Verizon) then the transition to digital will be absolutely transparent to you. There is nothing you need to do no matter how new or old your tv is. The set top cable/sat receiever/box that you rent will do the job to take the digtial signal and convert it so your analog tv can see it.
If you want to get FREE tv over the air and you have an old tv, then you will have to purchase a converter box to see the new digital signals. The goverment is giving every household TWO $40 dollar coupons to purchase two boxes. That website link above will direct you if you want to get the coupons.
What the cable and satellite companies HAVE to provide isn't determined yet. They already MUST carry the network local signals. Local stations may, with the new technology of digital broadcasting, put more channels over the air (multicasting). You can see those now for free (if your stations are doing it) over the air. The big question is how many of these "extra" broadcast channels will the cable/satellite companies be forced to carry and provide to you.

There may be an overlap where the cable companies will provide the analog signal (really the digital signal DOWN converted) but that will only help those people who have cable plugged directly into the set without a cable box. Again, in your situation that wouldn't affect you...as long as you continue to rent that receiver box from them.

Long answer I know, but there are a lot of details. That website above has all the answers and links to many other websites for more detail.

Answer 2

Excellent question.

There was just a ruling by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), that cable TV companies must continue to carry the analog feed of "broadcast" channels (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CW) for 3 years past the digital TV cutover date (Feb 17, 2009). This is so that some consumers aren't stranded if they haven't upgraded their TV sets or gotten a converter box.

However, I don't know what all the cable-only channels will be doing, especially the smaller niche channels. For example, why would the Food Channel need to go through the expense of getting HD cameras and encoders? They may just continue doing what they are doing now, and let the cable and satellite companies do any re-encoding needed to create the DTV signals.

Not really an answer. I'll be curious to read what other more knowledgable people have to say.