Cable Digital Shift Postponed

As if things are not confusing already, things are going to get just a little bit more complicated, in hopes of making things less complicated. Because the mandatory broadcast digital shift is scheduled to happen in February of 2009, cable TV operators are postponing their migration of analog channels to digital ones so that customers don’t get the two digital transitions confused. It is easy to see why this has been happening, as the two different processes sound so similar. The overlap in the past has also been a confusing factor.

The cable digital switch is where they are moving their analog system to digital tiers; this affects you if you are subscribed to a cable provider. This is different from the broadcast digital switch, where broadcasting stations are discontinuing their analog signals. The two are so similar, that customers are left confused about what is happening when. Because of the confusion, cable TV operators are putting a pause on their transition between December 31st and March 1st. The reason for the pause is because, as the National Cable & Telecommunications Association said, is they did not want to add a “layer of complexity” to the already confusing broadcasting switch.

Another agreement the cable operators have come to is that they will offer free adaptors to all customers who have old analog equipment to facilitate in the switch. These adaptors will be available from March of 2009 until June.

Those who had criticized the switching strategy of cable companies, such as Consumers Union, said this was a “welcome first step to help consumers navigate a costly maze of confusion surrounding the (digital TV) transition.” As a side note, however, they added that this is only a short-term solution, and that it does nothing to help the “high prices and discriminatory practices” of cable companies.

Therefore, while this may seem more confusing at first, it really is in an effort to make things less complicated overall.