Hallmark
Nickelodeon
Comedy Central
Spike TV
BET
MTV
CMT
VH1

Coming March 11th

The following channels will be moving to the SDV platform. So customers with a cable card, will lose them

Bright House Networks Travel Weather Now
1014
ESPNU HD
1331
Discovery HD Theater
1341
ESPN Deportes
115 & 611
FOX Business Network
124
News 13 en Espanol
130 &613
Discovery Kids
139
NASA TV
144
FOX Reality
155
Lifetime Real Women
157
Planet Green
162
MUN2
163 & 607
MTV tr3s
170 & 608
GAC
171
VH1 Classic
172
FUSE
174
Sundance
179
LOGO
181

Those customers are eligible for a FREE converter box for 12 months.

What is an "SDV platform" and why does having a government-required cable card mean those customers have to lose them? Couldn't you put them on channels CC customers CAN get?

Since CC is just encryption on a card instead of built into the box, why would that cause loss of service?

Do people who lose the service get to pay less?

I already get 7 of those channels. Can't find Hallmark. Paul

What is an "SDV platform" and why does having a government-required cable card mean those customers have to lose them? Couldn't you put them on channels CC customers CAN get?

Since CC is just encryption on a card instead of built into the box, why would that cause loss of service?

Do people who lose the service get to pay less?



can't answer the question but i have 2 words tuning adapter, now available at your cable company to pick up sdv.

What is an "SDV platform" and why does having a government-required cable card mean those customers have to lose them? Couldn't you put them on channels CC customers CAN get?

Since CC is just encryption on a card instead of built into the box, why would that cause loss of service?

Do people who lose the service get to pay less?


SDV is Switched Digital Video. It requires two way communication to work. It is used to increase the number of channels a single QAM can handle. Thus allowing BHN to offer over 100HD channels.

BHN is offering FREE for 12 months a digital converter box to the CC customers who wish to have one, because of the channels they now will be missing. So until tru2way devices are readily available a simple cable card is not enough for 2 way communication (SDV channels, VOD etc) Customers with a Tivo can also get a tuneing adapter from BHN free for 12 months, after which there will be a nominal charge.

And dont get me started on this government mandated cable card crap. What a bunch of BS that is. And a waste of money.

is this digital converter box any different than what you would need to convert analoug to digital signal?

Yes. it has to have 2 way communication

Yes. it has to have 2 way communication

so, do i need it with the tivo hd box i'm about to hook up? i have the tuning adapter ordered beside the cable cards. sounds like the converter would give me video on demand?

I had a cc when I had Charter. Has there been any progress made on the 2 way cc?

Most of the newer hdtv's don't even have a cc slot. I am thinking that cc technology was just a blip and not going anywhere.

think tivo is the only thing that has cc slots. and i like tivo much better than i like the current bhn hd dvr's and software.

Most of the newer hdtv's don't even have a cc slot. I am thinking that cc technology was just a blip and not going anywhere.

Cable Cards (as they are now) are dead. Cable admits it. Government admits it.

Encoding is fine, but be smart about it.

I want to be able to plug in my TIVO, or even a Windows PC running Media Center and have access to EVERY channel, including VOD. I don't want to have "Tuning Adaptors", "Cable Cards" or expensive $300 cable card readers.

All of this can be done through Software....and in the future, will be.

Tru2Way is a good start, but it sounds like it will still require a physical cable card. At the very least though it allows 2 way communication, VOD, and all that jazz.

The problem is this: Cable makes a killing on boxes. They probably cost them $300-400 tops a unit. Why would they want you to give up $20 a month? After 1-2 years they are making PURE PROFIT from "renting" you that box you already paid for.

Also, good HD pick ups. Is Daily Show in HD yet?

Cable Cards (as they are now) are dead. Cable admits it. Government admits it.

Encoding is fine, but be smart about it.

I want to be able to plug in my TIVO, or even a Windows PC running Media Center and have access to EVERY channel, including VOD. I don't want to have "Tuning Adaptors", "Cable Cards" or expensive $300 cable card readers.

All of this can be done through Software....and in the future, will be.

Tru2Way is a good start, but it sounds like it will still require a physical cable card. At the very least though it allows 2 way communication, VOD, and all that jazz.

The problem is this: Cable makes a killing on boxes. They probably cost them $300-400 tops a unit. Why would they want you to give up $20 a month? After 1-2 years they are making PURE PROFIT from "renting" you that box you already paid for.

Not sure who charges 20$ for a box and yes they do spend about 300$ on a box. They charge about 7-10$ a month for them that INCLUDES the extra channels that come with it. Do the math and see how long it takes to recoup that hardware investment. Cable companies make there money from the extra things you will buy with your box, plus the base price of your package. Not so much in the hardware rental.

And the reason why you still will need a card is because of the encrpytion. You need a device to decrypt the channel. The cable companies are not going to give some retail company the decrption code then anyone could steal the signal.

Also, good HD pick ups. Is Daily Show in HD yet?


has been since the first monday in january. plus the new season of south parj, if you watch, will be in hd.

Cable Cards (as they are now) are dead. Cable admits it. Government admits it.

Encoding is fine, but be smart about it.

I want to be able to plug in my TIVO, or even a Windows PC running Media Center and have access to EVERY channel, including VOD. I don't want to have "Tuning Adaptors", "Cable Cards" or expensive $300 cable card readers.

All of this can be done through Software....and in the future, will be.

Tru2Way is a good start, but it sounds like it will still require a physical cable card. At the very least though it allows 2 way communication, VOD, and all that jazz.

The problem is this: Cable makes a killing on boxes. They probably cost them $300-400 tops a unit. Why would they want you to give up $20 a month? After 1-2 years they are making PURE PROFIT from "renting" you that box you already paid for.


actually, at one time bhn charged you the price of a digital setup box plus the hd dvr, meaning you paid $17 a month for one box. i don't remember their rationale but i thought it was rather silly.

If I am not using a box "cable direct to TV" will I need to buy a box.

actually, at one time bhn charged you the price of a digital setup box plus the hd dvr, meaning you paid $17 a month for one box. i don't remember their rationale but i thought it was rather silly.

This only applies to the second+ boxes. And its the same fee other companies charge 1 fee for the box and another fee for the DVR services.

With BHN the first box is cheaper then the second box (as with most companies)

maybe, it isn't the case now but about 5 years ago it was and i had only one box. if i remember correctly, it didn't change when i got the 2nd hd dvr. i paid $9.95 x 2 plus $6.95 for the digital box i didn't physically have.

I dont recall that ever being a policy.

On the first DVR you were charged X amount. On the second DVR you were charged X + Y.

This is the same with most all companies. The main reason being your first box cost is subsidized by the cost of programming you pay (ala the standard package etc) The second box is then being paid for via the extra fee they charge.

that's what i paid in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 before i went back to satellite.

Looking at it now it does seem to be right.

9.995 for the first box. 9.95 for second + 6.95 extra for second. So like I said first box is cheaper then second box. First box 10bucks second box 17bucks. They must of just broke it down for ya on your bill to reflect that.

Looking at it now it does seem to be right.

9.995 for the first box. 9.95 for second + 6.95 extra for second. So like I said first box is cheaper then second box. First box 10bucks second box 17bucks. They must of just broke it down for ya on your bill to reflect that.


no, i think the first box was 17 and the second 10, if my memory is correct.

I think your memory is incorrect. Its been that way for a long time. Even for non-DVR boxes. Its the same way with The big sat companies to.

why would you pay more for the second? i'm not going to argue but i believe my memory to be correct. you don't pay the digital fee with the second box.

i own one of my 2 dtv dvr's. i pay a $5 lease fee for the second box not the first. the first doesn't have a fee other than the upgrade fee you intially pay.

why would you pay more for the second? i'm not going to argue but i believe my memory to be correct. you don't pay the digital fee with the second box.

i own one of my 2 dtv dvr's. i pay a $5 lease fee for the second box not the first. the first doesn't have a fee other than the upgrade fee you intially pay.

You pay 5$ on the second box not the first with DTV. Which is exactly what happens with BHN.

The second box costs more. Why? Because as I said above the cost of the first box is subsidized by your cable/programming package.

With BHN if you buy a "digital combo" you get 1 box "free" where its included in the price of the package then your extra boxes cost more. If you choose a DVR as your "first" box then you will pay the difference between the DVR and the non-dvr to get the package price.

that might be the case now but it wasn't in 2005.

i have an hd dvr (for the time being). i am going to double check my bill but i believe i am being charged 9.95 for it and not the difference between the ``free'' hd receiver and the hd dvr.

i just got my new bill today and it clearly states 9.95 for hd dvr service. plus, i just had to call billing about some other problem, i mentioned the above info to her and she is really curious where you are getting your info from.

Why is it so hard to determine and to understand BHN pricing?

Is it intentional, or just convenient that nobody can figure it out?

Why is it so hard to determine and to understand BHN pricing?

Is it intentional, or just convenient that nobody can figure it out?

i don't have a problem and the bhn csr i spoke with earlier today agreed i don't have a problem. but if it makes you feel better, blame it on all the prescription meds i take!

that might be the case now but it wasn't in 2005.

i have an hd dvr (for the time being). i am going to double check my bill but i believe i am being charged 9.95 for it and not the difference between the ``free'' hd receiver and the hd dvr.

i just got my new bill today and it clearly states 9.95 for hd dvr service. plus, i just had to call billing about some other problem, i mentioned the above info to her and she is really curious where you are getting your info from.

I did not say you were being charged a difference. I said you will be charged more for the second one vs the first one. The reason I mentioned difference was to show why. The CSR clearly does not understand how the business works if she does not know the basic principal of recouping costs of equipment.

iceturkey, you misunderstood. What I said was not directed at you by any means.

It was a comment on the fact that BHN makes its pricings obtuse--and I was wondering if that was intentional...that they don't =want= anybody to be able to understand it.

iceturkey, you misunderstood. What I said was not directed at you by any means.

It was a comment on the fact that BHN makes its pricings obtuse--and I was wondering if that was intentional...that they don't =want= anybody to be able to understand it.

i didn't misunderstand, i was getting my digs in. but enough of this before i say something i will regret.

Now *I* don't understand. Oh well, I guess I just can't comprehend. Blame it on my meds.

When are we getting weather channel hd or do we have it already?

no you don't.

I have seen one tv with a CC slot. There a pain, you have to rent the CC anyways. Your better off just getting a cable box from the cable company, pay a few extra per month and have a million less headaches. Even the tuning adapters are a pain in the neck. Once your free year of the tuning adapter is up, you are paying the 4 bucks a month PER tuning adapter and I believe its about another 4 bucks for the cable card. If the DVR ever breaks, BHN is responsible to replace it whereas if you bought your own, your responsible.. I agree the TIVO units are a bit better but to me its not worth paying that much extra for

disagree tim tim, i'd much rather have tivo over the bhn hd dvr box. plus, i can download other things to my tivo box than the bhn box.