Sony Inks Two-Way Cable Agreement - Blu-ray Forum

HDTV1080P · 05-28-2008, 06:40 PM

Perhaps in a few years one will be able to purchase a HDTV without the need to rent a cable box. In a few years there might be HDTV’s that offer true two way video on demand with the built in two way QAM tuner cable box technology. Higher-end HDTV’s would have a built in HD DVR or a external SATA jack to plug in a external hard drive. These new TV’s are going to have to support MPEG-4 and switched digital video to be 100% compatible with all the subscription programming that cable TV offers.

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6564362.html?desc=topstory

Beta Man · 05-28-2008, 06:57 PM

no more getting nickel-and-dimed to death by cable/satellite providers for equipment you HAVE to buy from them.... now you can get better quality components.... I think this is great.

DetroitSportsFan · 05-28-2008, 09:57 PM

It's just something more to go wrong with the TV... no thanks.

I'll keep paying a a few extra dollars a month to keep using HD DVRs from the cable company.

Zman2k2 · 05-28-2008, 10:39 PM

Sounds like a good idea, but as one who has experienced problems in the past, I'm skeptical. Would something like a built-in tuner be able to get firmware updates from the cable company? I know that my cable company is constantly updating the firmware to get more and more bugs out, and expand the PPV abilities. But having something like this would take you outside the regular support as well. If there's problems, it's not like you can call the cable company, you'd have to call a TV repairman. I don't know, sounds good on paper, but put into practice could prove another thing.

HDTV1080P · 05-29-2008, 04:15 PM

When and if these two way built in cable boxes make it to market the capabilities will be just like a external digital cable box. The cable company will be able to offer software updates. The last I heard the two way technology will use a low cost downloadable cable card technology that can be changed at anytime by the cable company. A software cable card is better then today’s existing cable card technology which is only one way accept for the latest TIVO boxes that will accept two way cable cards.
It will be like owning your own telephone. If everything goes to plan one day you will be able to purchase several diffrent brands and models of external cable boxes to subscribe to the programming that you want. Retail stores in several years might be full of diffrent choices to choose from.

JTK · 05-29-2008, 04:22 PM

Basically an "improved" Cable Card was how I understood this all to be, in essence.

WickyWoo · 05-29-2008, 06:58 PM

Think about a laptop, with its 5 1/4 drives and PCMIA slots

The TVs of the future will be like this, allowing you to slot ina hard drive or a blu-ray player

This is what the Cell chip was originally designed for. To decode your cable, run the DVR while you're surfing the web, all on your flat panel

05-28-2008, 06:40 PM	#1
HDTV1080P Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Jan 2007 Blu-ray reviews: 205	Sony Inks Two-Way Cable Agreement Perhaps in a few years one will be able to purchase a HDTV without the need to rent a cable box. In a few years there might be HDTV’s that offer true two way video on demand with the built in two way QAM tuner cable box technology. Higher-end HDTV’s would have a built in HD DVR or a external SATA jack to plug in a external hard drive. These new TV’s are going to have to support MPEG-4 and switched digital video to be 100% compatible with all the subscription programming that cable TV offers. http://www.twice.com/article/CA6564362.html?desc=topstory

05-29-2008, 04:15 PM	#5
HDTV1080P Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Jan 2007 Blu-ray reviews: 205	When and if these two way built in cable boxes make it to market the capabilities will be just like a external digital cable box. The cable company will be able to offer software updates. The last I heard the two way technology will use a low cost downloadable cable card technology that can be changed at anytime by the cable company. A software cable card is better then today’s existing cable card technology which is only one way accept for the latest TIVO boxes that will accept two way cable cards. It will be like owning your own telephone. If everything goes to plan one day you will be able to purchase several diffrent brands and models of external cable boxes to subscribe to the programming that you want. Retail stores in several years might be full of diffrent choices to choose from. Last edited by HDTV1080P; 05-29-2008 at 04:19 PM.

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05-28-2008, 06:57 PM	#2
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	no more getting nickel-and-dimed to death by cable/satellite providers for equipment you HAVE to buy from them.... now you can get better quality components.... I think this is great.

05-28-2008, 09:57 PM	#3
DetroitSportsFan Hot Deals Moderator Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Michigan 4K collection:439 Blu-ray collection:2226 Trading Score:93	It's just something more to go wrong with the TV... no thanks. I'll keep paying a a few extra dollars a month to keep using HD DVRs from the cable company.

05-28-2008, 10:39 PM	#4
Zman2k2 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Calgary, Canada Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:136 Trading Score:54	Sounds like a good idea, but as one who has experienced problems in the past, I'm skeptical. Would something like a built-in tuner be able to get firmware updates from the cable company? I know that my cable company is constantly updating the firmware to get more and more bugs out, and expand the PPV abilities. But having something like this would take you outside the regular support as well. If there's problems, it's not like you can call the cable company, you'd have to call a TV repairman. I don't know, sounds good on paper, but put into practice could prove another thing.

05-29-2008, 04:22 PM	#6
JTK Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2006 Location:www.blurayoasis.com	Basically an "improved" Cable Card was how I understood this all to be, in essence.

05-29-2008, 06:58 PM	#7
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	Think about a laptop, with its 5 1/4 drives and PCMIA slots The TVs of the future will be like this, allowing you to slot ina hard drive or a blu-ray player This is what the Cell chip was originally designed for. To decode your cable, run the DVR while you're surfing the web, all on your flat panel

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