What BUGS Me About... Cable TV
By
Staten Island, NY Posted: 12/25/2016 1:00:00 AM
Why are there NO standards for channel numbers on Cable TV?
Before cable TV came along, channels were know primarily by their number. There weren't many channels, so it was pretty simple, and as a rule of thumb although station ownership changed from time to time, but it didn't matter. Channel 5 was still Channel 5 to us.
As cable TV grew, things got a lot more complicated. There are literally thousands of channels right now, and it's nearly impossible to find a specific network, unless you've memorized the number. Making matters worse, every cable or satellite provider uses their own numbering system, making it nearly impossible to even produce a viable TV guide that can tell you what's on each channel.
I rarely watch TV, but as it stands now, I have no idea where to find ANY channels on my local cable TV system, except for the original VHS channel numbers 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13. It's not just because those were the channels I grew up with. It's largely because those particular channels still identify themselves by number. So you see "Channel 2 News"... on Channel 2. Makes sense? I literally don't have a clue whats on any other number.
There should be standards for channel numbers, if nothing else, on a regional basis.
It would be great to see local TV Guides and billboard ads refer to shows by showing the exact channel and time they're on, instead of saying "Check your local listings"... what listings? There aren't any.
Another option would be to see converter boxes that allow you to assign your own numbering system to your channels, including a quick option to load a template that matches a standardized order of channels.
Joe Crescenzi, Founder
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