RCN's Analog Crush nears completion, 100 HD channels coming soon

RCN's Analog Crush initiative has been steamrolling for a few months now, and according to the cable carrier, the elimination of old school analog is all but complete in its major markets. By the end of January, RCN anticipates 100% digital penetration in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Chicago markets, which will free up spectrum in order to get more HD (and SD, and international) programming onto the EPG. In fact, the company is hoping to surpass 100 high-definition channels by March, which makes us wonder why every other cable company out there isn't on this very same warpath.

[Image courtesy of TJooning]

[Galley Posted Jan 21st 2009 8:55AM]

Man, I don't miss "fish bowl" TVs at all!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 21st 2009 9:25AM]

Digital penetration? Sounds hot...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 21st 2009 9:30AM]

:( all i want is speed HD and comedy HD and i would be set. sadly i also need MTVnHD to make the lady happy

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 21st 2009 9:31AM]

(just making it so it will remember me)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 21st 2009 11:46AM]

Why not?
I'll tell you why not.
Because consumers, myself included, have TV's in every room that are already analogue cable ready... i.e. no box needed (and super speedy channel changing).

Add to this VCRs or DVR's that already record all 100+ analogue cable channels just fine. Force the move to digital and suddenly you render them all useless because they can't change the channel on the external box.

The TV stand that has the TV and the TiVo suddenly needs double the number pieces of electronic paraphernalia to do what it did just fine before.

Lastly, cable companies charge you for every box you have.
It's like a "Cable tax" on every device.
Many people refuse to pay this.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 21st 2009 10:05PM]

I would gladly trade an analog tv in every room for 100+ HD channels on my 50" tv in my living room... but that's just me I guess. Quality over quantity man.