Religious aspect to "must-carry" DTV
By Kevin C. Tofel 
posted Oct 17th 2005 2:39PM
posted Oct 17th 2005 2:39PM
Hmm...I didn't see this one coming, but I suppose I should have. There's an entire religious element
to the "must-carry" legislation under review. The "must-carry"
provision, if you're not aware, is a potential mandate on cable and
satellite providers to carry local digital broadcast stations. We're
looking for your thoughts on this in our weekly poll.So, what's the blasphemy with this deal? Up to now, there hasn't been much religious programming on cable or satellite, although it's fairly prominent in local UHF markets. Now that I think about it, I can pick up two unique digital OTA broadcasts that are nothing but religious programming. If the "must-carry" law is put to death, the audience reach will certainly dwindle in ability to watch this programming. Wow, just when I thought this was a relatively clear-cut decision, someone wisely resurrects the issue with a really good point.
Does this change your point-of-view on the "must-carry" law or do you think cable and satellite should be allowed freedom of programming choice?
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Although it would be nice to see all the OTA DTV stations on my cable, anything to rid the world of the scurge that is televised religion (or religion in general-comeon people Quantum Mechanics, evolve more than a brain stem damnit).
Hell, the two DTV locals that Hampton Roads Cox does carry arn't even in the clear, so a DTV set-top w/QAM as well as 8VSB is a no go. Its their box or nothin, and good luck with that CableCard (I have never seen a product so bad compatability wise - CableLabs is on it though to make a sort of DOCSIS-type standard so good times ahead right?)
Ummmm... wouldn't cable and satellite companies be able to get around this by creating set-top boxes that can pick up and (if they're DVRs) record digital OTA signals? Or would that not fly in rural areas?
My parents have DISH Network, but they don't get local HD signals through the dish, only OTA.