The end of NTSC analog TV (was: In case you have not seen it.....Linux Media Center)

[Ben Scott]

On 3/25/07, Bill Mullen <moon at lunarhub.com> wrote:
>> Of course, they'll eventually stop broadcasting
>> NTSC format video at all, and then I'll be screwed.
>
> Eventually? Try February 2009 ...
> ... nothing about this law actually requires that the cable companies stop
> offering an analog tier on their systems ...

  I believe you are correct.  I don't know what the cable companies
plan on doing.  Long term, I would expect it to die out, as it would
be more equipment and cost.  Short term, they can see them marketing
it as a feature: "Cable still works with your old TV set."

  Some other interesting bits:

  * ATSC != High Definition.  Digital != High Definition.  It is
perfectly possible, and not uncommon, to transmit a Standard
Definition picture using digital (be it ATSC, digital cable, or
something else).

  * OTA ATSC is not encrypted or otherwise encumbered.  You can
capture it using any Linux PC with the right hardware (a $100 tuner
card).

  * Many (but not all) cable systems re-transmit local OTA programming
down the wire "in the clear", without encryption.  Same Linux
situation.

  * Many (if not most) cable systems transmit all non-local-OTA High
Definition programming encrypted.  Even "Basic Cable".  Even when the
same Basic Cable programming is not scrambled on the analog side.  So
if the cable companies stop sending an analog signal, I won't be able
to record MythBusters on my Linux box.

-- 
"One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheel / And the next it's rolling over me"
                                                  -- Rush, "Far Cry"