Double Covering Ending for HBO

Time Warner Cable has sent out notices to subscribers saying that starting on June 24 HBO will only be available on digital channels 201 through 206, not on the analog Channel 5.

A TWC spokesman said the analog duplication is being dropped in anticipation of the much-publicized national conversion to digital in February of 2009.

The dropping of Channel 5 may upset HBO subscribers who receive the pay-cable channel only through that analog channel or who get it on Channel 5 on some of their extra TV sets that don't have a digital box. I know it will mean the end of HBO on two sets in my house.

Do you wish TWC would wait a little longer to make the move? What do you think of it?

-- Alan Pergament

Comments

[Jim]

Eh, I understand it. It's business.

But I will miss my free HBO! Never signed up or paid for it but have always gotten it on Ch. 5.

[chris]

Uh, cable companies aren't forced to do ANYTHING in Feb 2009. That only affects over-the-air broadcasts.

So why is TW doing this exactly?

Turning off one analog channel will free up some bandwidth which they may want/need... but it sounds to be like they're "blaming" the digital transition unfairly.