Do you consider what you watch on TV private?

[inbanshi]

I don't know about you, but I consider what I watch on tv in my own home to be private information that should not be recorded or sold. I tried "digital cable" for about a month, then did some investigating and found that the digital cable box is completely addressable and uploads every click and flip of the clicker back to the cable company.

The cable company's "privacy policy" clearly states that they can record your "viewing habits." The feature where you could start a movie on your demand was cool, but also part of the superdatabase being compiled to market to you more effectively.

The cable industry will no doubt expand this capability to include the long awaited individualized commercials over your tv, and make it ever more convient to buy stuff, with the click of your remote, instead of calling to order.

I don't know about you, but I say enough is enough. Something has to be kept private. Inside my own home, is the last frontier of my personal privacy and the cable company is not welcome.

[jpb5151]

That's one of the reasons we have standard cable here (not even a cable box). The other reason is that there's far more to life than "programming." It's not a necessity.

[sfloriII]

I'm not surprised that they take that information and it really gives me the creeps!

One reason why I cancelled my digital cable and returned happily to analog.

And that's coming from someone who works in the industry too!

[inbanshi]

BTW, same goes for those hard drive digital video recorders that the cable company sells and rents.

[nhodges]

Here in NOVA , you cannot get premium channels (HBO,etc) from Cox Cable if you do not have digital cable.

[MTI]

I could really care less if the cable company knew I watched Lifetime, WE or OXygen from time to time, with a sprinkling of Bravo, Ovation, OLN and HBOZ. Internet providers certainly know where you go on the 'net . . .

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by inbanshi

BTW, same goes for those hard drive digital video recorders that the cable company sells and rents.

I didn't know any of that. Thanks.

Guess I'll stay with analog.

[KirkVining]

You can always do what I did - get rid of all the premium channels and just go basic cable, and get one of those $29 unlimited membership at Block Buster. Alls they show on the Premium channels is crap anyway. I also save a net of about $60 a month, and get to watch good movies all the time instead of whatever garbage HBO is trying to push down my throat.

[MTI]

Sorry, but my HD plasma just hates "basic cable."

[inbanshi]

Originally Posted by KirkVining

You can always do what I did - get rid of all the premium channels and just go basic cable, and get one of those $29 unlimited membership at Block Buster. Alls they show on the Premium channels is crap anyway. I also save a net of about $60 a month, and get to watch good movies all the time instead of whatever garbage HBO is trying to push down my throat.

Right, I went all the way to broadcast only, since I'm stuck behind a hill, and its only $11 a month plus I do netflix.

[Cap'n Carageous]

I keep telling my wife to change the channel after our local news. But nooooooo! She leaves it on CBS so the spies think we actually like Dan Rather!!