Microsoft and CableLabs Announce Agreement to Enable High-Definition Digital Cable Programming
Looks like Vista is going to get cable card support
Notice it say “one way”, so no pay per view
Future versions of Media Center PCs to receive digital cable programming without the need for a cable set-top box.
Microsoft Corp. and Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs®) today announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows® Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame.
These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCARD™ module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their personal computer and throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices, such as Xbox 360™, while protecting cable operators’ investments in high-value content in a digital environment. Microsoft is working closely with CableLabs to document final approval of Windows Media® Digital Rights Management (DRM) as a content protection technology for OpenCable™ products that receive one-way cable content under the terms of this agreement.
link
Microsoft and CableLabs Announce Agreement to Enable High-Definition Digital Cable Programming
November 18th, 2005 at 2:36 am
The “one-way” won’t really be much of a problem: the three differences between a one-way cable card and a (theoretical) two-way connection are:
- a “two-way” gives you an interactive electronic program guide. Well, MCE has that already
- a “two-way” gives you video on demand: again, we have several offers for that in online spotlight
- a “two-way” enables pay-per-view: ok, that’s an outage. Then again. I never seriously felt compelled to fork over the huge bucks for the overpriced PPV stuff the cable companies offer
What’s more of an outage: while cable card gives you basic HDTV content (i.e. the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) and PBS, it does not give you any “premium” content (e.g. HBO HD, ESPN HD, …). For these, you still need a set-top-box. But then again: “premium” packages start at $25/month (ontop of your basic cable bill), the cable card is $1.99/month.
So, it’s a huge breakthrough, but not the full solution.