View Full Version : Is digital broadcast TV the new old-school cable TV


Frank Gannucci
06-11-2018, 10:35 PM
Way back in 1983, cable systems carried around 36 channels. In 2018 in some markets thanks to the digital transiston, the amount of broadcast channels can be as much as 50. But, there are some markets like mine that only have 29.

My how times have changed.

Dude111
06-15-2018, 04:25 PM
Ya and gotton much worse :(

bgva
06-16-2018, 10:59 PM
Way back in 1983, cable systems carried around 36 channels. In 2018 in some markets thanks to the digital transiston, the amount of broadcast channels can be as much as 50. But, there are some markets like mine that only have 29.

My how times have changed.
I've thought this as well. I'd say it's comparable, and maybe digital streaming is similar to having premium channels, since those shows have nudity and language.

AMackII
05-05-2022, 03:39 PM
Yes, the Diginets having been doing the variety stuff in recent years that most Cable TV channels once did all the time back in the day(Pre-Binge Era).

Chocolate Moose
05-06-2022, 10:52 AM
in ye olden days, cable didn't have commercials!!!

GentlemanJim
05-06-2022, 11:14 AM
Way back in 1983, cable systems carried around 36 channels. In 2018 in some markets thanks to the digital transiston, the amount of broadcast channels can be as much as 50. But, there are some markets like mine that only have 29.

My how times have changed.

Diginet has certainly brought broadcast TV a long way. They are the only way I can get METV, COZI, Comet, and THIS in my local market. If you add to that the Antenna TV and Laff TV that they offer, the overall package is way better than what you had to settle for over the air just a few years ago.

And here locally there are a ton of other over-the-air channels (I think we get like 56 all together including the major networks).....but many of them are ads-only or evangelical TV that I have little use for.

I'd say that if I didn't already have cable service just to get my broadband, I could be happy with just the diginets......certainly a lot happier that I would have been with broadcast-only, 12+ yeas ago

GentlemanJim
05-06-2022, 11:21 AM
The main drawbacks of the diginet business model is that you will almost never find a group of stations offering all or most of their channels in full 1080 high definition. There is a strong tendency for broadcasters to drop their flagship 1080 offerings to 720p and in so doing create bandwidth in order to carry the sub channels at 480.

Which IMO, is unfortunate. I guess it's a matter of economics-driven opportunity., SINCE IT CAN BE DONE, then IT MUST BE DONE...etc