Hi Guys:

Permit me to add my two cents. Here in L.A., you can't get any TV reception if you don't have cable. Also, with the shift to High Definition happening very soon, everyone will be required to have a cable box.

I have a little-above what is called basic cable but enjoy it very much, especially TCM. And I can also order movies from On Demand to enjoy in the comfort of my living room. This feature also offers replays of movies that have appeared on TCM. This I like very much as well.

The cable setup also provides info on a film that you can access on the remote and of course you can get grids of what films are coming up. The one thing I don't have or want is the premium channels like Showtime, etc. With On Demand I can order a new film at my convenience. So all and all I would be lost without cable.

Even with all the entertainment distractions I manage to read a couple of books a week and work full time. But I agree that too many options can take away from other things that need to be done. I know once I got TCM I was really hooked. Now I try to ration my viewing.

" I know once I got TCM I was really hooked. Now I try to ration my viewing. "

You possess an inner strength and capacity for discipline Jill, that I utterly and completely lack - LOL. Which is the main reason why I don't subscribe to cable - but I fully agree that the benefits of many of the types of cable access are great.

Just as a mention - Australia presently broadcasts free to air tv in two formats, the original analogue and the new digital which commenced in 2001. But quite soon, analogue broadcasts will cease and all householders must then either have an integrated digital television set or a digital set top box which sits above an analogue reception tv.
Without either of these options, reception will be impossible.

I think it does not become absolute until somewhere between 2010 and 2012, but obviously, when anyone now buys a new tv, they would be buying digital in preparation.

Kerry

Kerry:

Does that mean you will have to buy cable then? It won't be free, I assume. I'm just interested in how the rest of the world handles this.

Jill - no the change won't compel purchase of cable. It affects free to air broadcasting. Basically, if anyone wants tv reception at all ( once the change is ultimately effected) they will have to have either an integrated digital television set, or a converter which is a set top box that converts the signal. Our stations will only broadcast in digital as opposed to analogue broadcast which was how we started out decades ago.

Kerry

I already bought two converter boxes for my two TV sets, since the government was offering a $20 rebate towards each one, and you were allowed up to two $20 rebates.

So, unless my two analog sets decide to break before next February when the switch to digital TV happens, I'm okay.

My understanding is that if you have cable TV, the cable company in effect takes care of the change to digital, and the subscriber doesn't pay. At least, that's how it is with the cable provider in my area of Pennsylvania.