Yearly TV Licence? ...Really? Digital and Cable

[Steve]

---  "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> bboyminn:
> > 
> > ..., so really it's only two channels. 
> > 
> > That's what I get for free here in the USA, meaning two 
> > commercial free channels (PBS), though today's PBS can 
> > hardly be called commerial free. <snip>
> 
> Carol responds:
> 
> Not for long. On February 19, 2009 ..., you'll no longer be
> able to view TV free using rabbit ears. That's the date
> when all the stations will change from analog to digital.
> 
> I've been told that I won't need a converter because the 
> cable company will convert the signal through my cable box.
> I hope that's the case because I certainly don't want to 
> buy a converter--or a new TV.
> 
> Carol, remembering the old days when (almost) every house 
> had a TV antenna
>

bboyminn:

Your cable company will convert the signal for you, but 
think what that means. It means that the cable company is
not, and probably will not until forced to, sending
digital quality signals through it's cable.

My brother just quit cable and switch to digital quality 
satellite and the difference is amazing. We watched
'Hairspray' on his !BIG! screen TV and it was fantastic.

The community my brother lives in foolishly signed a 25
year exclusive contract with the local cable company, so
there is no incentive for them to innovate because they
have the market locked up for 25 years.

Steve/bluewizard