The Federal Communications Commission has today approved a new 'plug-and-play' standard that will allow basic one-way digital cable TV services to be received without a set-top-box.
In America, many analogue cable TV customers are able to receive cable service simply by connecting a cable between their TV and the wall socket, without a converter box using "cable-ready" TVs. The new standard aims to increase take-up of digital cable by taking out the need for a set-top-box when subscribers only want the extra channels offered by digital cable. A set-top-box will still be needed if the subscriber wishes to take two-way services, such as video-on-demand and customised electronic programme guides.
The new digital cable-ready TVs will be labelled as such, and provide 'plug-and-play' functionality more consistent with that of converter-less analogue cable TV service. The move is designed to increase take-up of digital cable services in time for the FCC's 2006 analogue-to-digital switch-over target.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell said: "This is a great result for consumers. Consumers who want digital television sets will have an easier time connecting them to their cable service and having them work with high-definition and other digital programming."
America's National Cable and Telecommunications Association was also pleased with the result. The organisation's President and CEO, Robert Sachs, said:
"Today's action is good for consumers, because it will hasten the day when "digital cable ready" television sets will reach the market, making it easier for cable customers to access digital television services such as high-definition television programming without the need for set-top boxes. It also validates the affirmative response of the cable and consumer electronics industries to the encouragement they received from FCC and Congressional leaders who urged the two industries to reach voluntary agreements to resolve DTV transition issues. The FCC's endorsement of these agreements sends a positive signal to all involved in the DTV transition to work together to voluntarily resolve outstanding issues."
In America, many analogue cable TV customers are able to receive cable service simply by connecting a cable between their TV and the wall socket, without a converter box using "cable-ready" TVs. The new standard aims to increase take-up of digital cable by taking out the need for a set-top-box when subscribers only want the extra channels offered by digital cable. A set-top-box will still be needed if the subscriber wishes to take two-way services, such as video-on-demand and customised electronic programme guides.
The new digital cable-ready TVs will be labelled as such, and provide 'plug-and-play' functionality more consistent with that of converter-less analogue cable TV service. The move is designed to increase take-up of digital cable services in time for the FCC's 2006 analogue-to-digital switch-over target.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell said: "This is a great result for consumers. Consumers who want digital television sets will have an easier time connecting them to their cable service and having them work with high-definition and other digital programming."
America's National Cable and Telecommunications Association was also pleased with the result. The organisation's President and CEO, Robert Sachs, said:
"Today's action is good for consumers, because it will hasten the day when "digital cable ready" television sets will reach the market, making it easier for cable customers to access digital television services such as high-definition television programming without the need for set-top boxes. It also validates the affirmative response of the cable and consumer electronics industries to the encouragement they received from FCC and Congressional leaders who urged the two industries to reach voluntary agreements to resolve DTV transition issues. The FCC's endorsement of these agreements sends a positive signal to all involved in the DTV transition to work together to voluntarily resolve outstanding issues."
