Family Tiering Gets Technical

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: Glen Dickson]
A look at the technical challenges cable operators face delivering family tiers. Speaking at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Kyle McSlarrow acknowledged that there are “a host of technical issues” involved with introducing family tiers and companies will likely have different solutions to launching the tiers. Bigger complications await operators with cable systems that are not yet converted to digital. Digital channels can be easily arranged into a programming block that would be accessible only to subscribers with a digital set-top box. The main way to limit subscriber access to “offensive” analog channels is through the use of addressable analog set-tops or by trapping, which employs a simple signal filter located outside the subscriber's home in order to block signals. Using trapping to create a separate family tier might require operators to remap a number of analog channels and would also necessitate service calls to install the equipment at subscriber homes. Some analog channels might need to be duplicated in a family-friendly digital tier, which is a waste of bandwidth. But major operators that, like Comcast, have created “digital simulcast” systems are already rebroadcasting the analog basic channels in compressed digital form, so this would not be an issue for them.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6292174?display=Technology&referral=SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

* Tiers for Fears
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
A recap of cable's plan to offer "family tier" pricing -- and reaction from family viewing advocates.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6292170?display=News&referral=SUPP
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)