ReplayTVBlog

Another win for Consumers and a definite blow to the Cable Companies bottom line. A Federal Appeals Court has upheld the recent mandate from the FCC that Cable Companies must provide consumers with CableCards. This means that newer TV’s and TV related devices (like the upcoming TiVo Series 3 DVR) that support the CableCard standard will not need a set top cable box to decode and display digital cable channels. Essentially, Digital Cable TV will be “Plug and Play”.

This is a good thing. Not only will it be easier to setup Digital Cable TV with DVR’s and other set top boxes, but the potential for dual tuners is just a second CableCard away — no more A/B switches and analog basic cable only tuners.

Of course the Cable Companies are not too happy about this mandate. It is estimated that the Cable Companies make approximately $2.5 Billion a year renting cable boxes to consumers. Not only will the CableCard eliminate the need for these boxes, but it will also cost the Cable Companies almost $470 million to implement the new CableCard technology. But don’t feel too bad for the Cable TV Industry. I’m sure they will make up for all that lost revenue by charging us a monthly fee for the CableCards they let us use.

Now I can’t wait to get my hands on a new TiVo Series 3 DVR and stick two cable cards into it — Mmmmmmmm…. Dual Tuner HDTV Recording Goodness!

Technorati Tags: FCC, Cable TV, CableCard, TiVo, DVR, PVR

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