Downloadable Conditional Access System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:38, 19 February 2007

Revision as of 01:00, 19 February 2007

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== Consumer Issues ==

Early and present adopters of cable High Definition have seen theretheir cable bills skyrocket. The reason is two-fold. First, HD content has a price. Second, and more relevent to DCAS is because early adopters have been forced monoplisticallymonopolistically to rent cable boxes, CableCards, and remotes from the cable companies to view digital content. CableCards if used in place of a cable boxboxes doesdo reduce cable bills, by lowering rental fees. The trade off is less functions, because current cards are one way. One-way cards do not allow for video on demand, or pay per view programming. Two-way cards allow for VOD, PPV, and program scheduling, etc.

On July 1, 2007 consumers will be able to purchase third pary DVRs, and TVs and view digital cable without having to rent from the cable company. Increased competition gives the consumers better price and products. For example, say a cable subsriber is currently paying $20/month for cable boxes/dvr/remotes. On 7/1/2007 he has the option to cut this cost, but will have to replace with something else, say a 3rd party DVR. The prior $20 cable monthly rental fee adds up to $240/year or $480 for 2 years. More likely than not, the customer will find a DVR for less than $480, and better than what cable offered, and after two years will pocket $240 each year thereafter.

== See also ==