Why do CableCARD host devices still cost so much?

We've been talking about CableCARD long before Engadget HD ever existed -- some might remember HD Beat -- and one thing that hasn't changed in the last five years is that 3rd party host devices still can't access VOD and the cheapest ones aren't cheap at all. TiVo, Moxi and ATI aren't the only ones who find it hard to make the economics of a $300+ device work either, as cable operators around the country have been petitioning the FCC for waivers, arguing that CableCARD set-tops cost to much to deploy. The estimates to add a CableCARD slot to a device vary from between $50 and $100, but either way the prices haven't come down much (if any). Well more recently TiVo has stated the obvious and has requested that the FCC conduct a probe to reveal the reasons. Ultimately the cost is just yet another reason why CableCARD is a failure, but since it's all we've got for now, we might as well try to figure out ways to make it cheaper.

[KevinQ Posted Apr 17th 2010 9:45PM]

about the most meaningless post ive read all week.

[PeterFnet Posted Apr 17th 2010 10:09PM]

Definitely not a worthless post. This will definitely play into the future of removable security in TV devices

[monster1095 Posted Apr 18th 2010 8:11PM]

I guess I'm a little late on asking this but what is a cableCARD?

[knewman Posted Apr 19th 2010 3:13AM]

@monster1095

basically a PCM card that allows your 3rd party set top box (like a TiVo) to decode the Cable Co's encrypted digital channels

[knewman Posted Apr 19th 2010 3:16AM]

I think it's because of the super low adoption rate. I've never actually seen a Cable Card device in use in a home before. If they were manufactured in higher quantities the price would go down, but since almost no one buys them there is no reason to.

[WBonner Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:27AM]

Cable Card is somewhat like bluetooth in its adoption. Only after bluetooth had been declared dead several times did it really gain acceptance.

When TVs were available with cablecard slots, it was still too early, and you couldn't get a cable card from your average cable company. I'm still amazed in the number of TVs sold as opposed to simply monitors. I figure most people use a cable box or a DVR, avoiding the TV tuner in their TV entirely. I'd love to see a current poll on how many people use internal TV tuners on their TVs. (exclusively, occasionally, never, for over the air only, or for cable systems)

[kevon27 Posted Apr 19th 2010 11:36AM]

Blame Microsoft. Why are we only now able to buy cable cards for PC's from vendors like Ceton?
If it was not for those stupid restrictions placed by MS and cable labs, we would be see way, way more HTPC's with cable cards installed. You'll have more manufactures for those cards and that would drive down the prices.
If you want to see an uptake in cable card purchases for the PC, have someone create a hack to get free cable..

[BenD Posted Apr 19th 2010 11:38AM]

@kevon27

It is a CableLabs requirement, Microsoft was only complying. And now the FCC wants to remove the software certification requirement, of which it is reviewing this wednesday. With any luck other DVR software will be able to use the new tuners too.

[dataninja Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:40PM]

@kevon27 So you would rather see something rushed out that is glitchy with little to no support instead of something tested?

Really people, you have no idea how hard it is to get interoperability between supposed "standards based" devices as complicated as Cable boxes and cable cards.

There are plenty of TV models out there that where orphaned by the manufacturers because they where 2 year old models that never really worked with Cable Cards. Oh the joy to hear a customer tell you "I called Samysung and they say my cable card TV won't work with a cable card and they won't do anything".

[dataninja Posted Apr 19th 2010 10:42PM]

I think it's amusing to think of all the future-orphaned TVs that are coming out with YouTube and Netflix in them now that won't work in a very few years.

Does anyone seriously think the manufactures will update any tv over 3 years old to work with any changes Youtube or Netflix makes?