Comcast dropping all analog channels above 26 (rent, how much, buy)

[billl]

I just received a letter in the mail today from Comcast. They are getting rid of all their analog channels above 26 so that they can reuse the bandwidth to create more digital channels. Channels 2-26 will remain as is, but everything above that (CNN, Fox News, TNT, Discovery, TLC, SciFi, Sports channels, etc.) will all be digital-only.

If you still have analog TVs (or an analog TiVo like I do) using Comcast cable service, don't expect them to continue to work for too much longer. You will need either a converter box (and Comcast claims they are giving away 2 boxes per household) or a digital-capable TV.

I find this mildly annoying. I thought I was going to be able to continue to coast through the "digital transition" without being seriously affected. Oh well. I guess I will have to go buy a new TiVo box now.

Bill

[JoeP]

View it this way, you were lucky to have analog this long. This process has been delayed and a lot of channels are digital now.

[billl]

I wish they would publish a firm date so that I know how much longer I have to worry about this. But I guess they want to be able to delay it without being publicly embarrassed.

[JoeP]

The date that is often mentioned (and changed) is when analog is definitely gone, but many networks have changed or will likely flip before then.

[straightfromatown]

I have found this whole thing extremely annoying. I can't stand seeing the transition commercials, the messages that pop-up over shows, and the news "countdown to digital transitions" that show up every day. I get it, analog won't work, please do it already! The Netherlands made this happen 3 years ago, why is it taking so long. If people don't realize what is going on by now they will just call up when there service goes out.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by billl

I just received a letter in the mail today from Comcast. They are getting rid of all their analog channels above 26 so that they can reuse the bandwidth to create more digital channels. Channels 2-26 will remain as is, but everything above that (CNN, Fox News, TNT, Discovery, TLC, SciFi, Sports channels, etc.) will all be digital-only.

I knew this was coming eventually. Sad. It'll blow my ReplayTV out of the water, too, so it looks like it's time to switch to digital and rent a new DVR.

[PeteyNice]

The transition that you see the ads for and this are totally different. The transition mentioned in the ads is for broadcast channels and people who get their TV through an antenna (think rabbit ears).

Cable is not impacted at all by that move.

What Comcast is doing is not mandated until 2012.

If they are going to do this, I hope they intend to have correct P-SIP data and keep the basic channels unencrypted.

ReplayTV! The greatest DVR ever! I still have a 5080 hooked up in a guest room. It still skips commercials like nobodies business. Your Replay came with an IR blaster (or if you don't have it any more you can get them cheap on eBay). That will allow the Replay to control the channel on the cable box and work fine.

[noah]

Sounds to me like Comcast is doing another scare tactic to get you to sign up for more expensive programming. They are already being investigated I believe by the FTC for doing this a few months back.

Originally Posted by billl

I just received a letter in the mail today from Comcast. They are getting rid of all their analog channels above 26 so that they can reuse the bandwidth to create more digital channels. Channels 2-26 will remain as is, but everything above that (CNN, Fox News, TNT, Discovery, TLC, SciFi, Sports channels, etc.) will all be digital-only.

If you still have analog TVs (or an analog TiVo like I do) using Comcast cable service, don't expect them to continue to work for too much longer. You will need either a converter box (and Comcast claims they are giving away 2 boxes per household) or a digital-capable TV.

I find this mildly annoying. I thought I was going to be able to continue to coast through the "digital transition" without being seriously affected. Oh well. I guess I will have to go buy a new TiVo box now.

Bill

[lastminutemom]

So, can they do it before 2012 if they choose to?

[billl]

Originally Posted by noah

Sounds to me like Comcast is doing another scare tactic to get you to sign up for more expensive programming.

How do you figure? The standard digital package is the same price as expanded basic. And they're giving away two converters to every customer.

I'm not going to have to pay any more to Comcast (except maybe for the cablecards my new TiVo will need), but I am going to have to sink some money in to new hardware.

Bill