Editor: David Tanny
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Suggested Cox Limited Basic Cable Lineup (Nov 13, 2008)With the FCC ruling that cable systems must make the local digital signals available to all subscribers including analog customers, Cox and other local cable systems need to readjust their lineups to reflect the ruling.It should also be noted that the local cable systems should carry the local low power TV stations on its analog tier instead of just the digital tier like they do with several low power local channels. TV stations from Tijuana are exempt from being carried on the U.S. cable systems as the FCC cannot regulate what the cable systems should do with foreign-owned radio stations. But because of San Diego's close proximity with Tijuana, it is understood that the locals expect the cable systems to carry the TV stations from Tijuana and Tecate as well. Cox would be forced to move its national cable channels to another tier such as Expanded Basic and Digital Basic in order to accomodate the must-carry local TV digital signals as they come into existance. The side channels of the local signals that are offered by KPBS and KNSD to name two would have to be offered on the Limited Basic tier. All of the high definition digital signals from the local stations have to be carried in the clear so that digital TV sets can tune them in with its onboard QAM tuner systems. Cable systems must offer the analog equivilent of a local channel's digital channel on its analog tier. KSWB-DT, for example, is offered in the clear on its digital system, but the cable company has to downconvert it to analog after Feb 17 so it will be broadcast on its analog tier as required by the FCC. The analog equivilants are downcoverted to standard definition and cannot be offered in high definition due to the limitations of an analog signal.
Here is the reccomended Limited Basic tier that Cox should be offering
for South County customers.
130-199: TBA 200-299: Premium Digital 300-309: Movie Package 310-334: Sports Packaage 335-359: Variety Package 360-399: Lifestyles Package 400-404: Premium Specialty 407-429: Paquete Latino 430-434: Faith & Values Package 500-699: PPV 700-799: HDTV (796-799-PPV) 800-899: TBA 900-999: Audio Tier
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