Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Our Readers' Opinions
March 23, 2012

Is the BOX necessary for the BASIC CABLE package?

Fri, Mar 23. 2012

Editor: Digital TV, or DTV, is a new format for broadcast television that allows high-definition video (HDTV) and surround-sound audio to be sent over the air for free, without cable or satellite service.{{more}}

Any Television set built from 1994 to 2003/04 had two types of Tuners, an Analog and a Semi digital. When a coaxial cable is connected to it you were given two setup options (Air or Cable) Air for the use of an Antenna for free to air service which gives you from channels 2 – 17/19 and Cable from 2 – 125. So those Television Sets from 1994 and older, if being used today will require additional equipment to be able carry the new digital signal. Television sets built 2003/04 to date have full Digital Tuner, hence they require no additional equipment.

DTV uses less bandwidth than analog TV. Regulators are reallocating that bandwidth for other purposes, such as advanced internet wireless and emergency public safety services.

If you watch television via satellite or cable, you won’t be affected by the switch from Analog to Digital T.V. Satellite signals are already digital, while cable providers will continue to transmit the channels in their lineups the old way

The latest country to make the switch from Analog to Digital in North America is Canada

The Government of Canada and the CRTC mandated that over-the-air television transmission switch from analogue to digital in many parts of Canada on August 31, 2011. Karib Cable introduced the BOX in St. Vincent and the Grenadines long before, and we in St Vincent and the Grenadines were viewing City TV, one of the Canadian Stations that switched in August 2011. How can it be possible that we needed THE BOX to view CITY TV before they made the switch to Digital TV?

If you subscribe to cable or satellite to watch TV, the switch to digital over-the-air transmission won’t affect you receiving the service.

The vast majority of persons in North America will not be affected by the change. That’s because 93% of North Americans today receive their TV signals by cable or satellite provider.

The switch to digital affects only television viewers who receive their TV signals using an outdoor antenna or “rabbit ears”. If you’re one of those viewers, you may need either a digital converter box or a television with a built-in digital tuner in order to continue watching over-the-air television. Alternatively, you may want to consider receiving your TV services from a cable, satellite or other service provider.

If Karib Cable is affected by the changes in North America, then how is it SVG TV, which is an analog Station which broadcasts North American Television Networks to us in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Free to Air and we are not ask to get special equipment to receive the signal.

I hereby conclude that THE BOX is not necessary and should be removed from the BASIC CABLE package. If an individual wishes to have the additional packages from Karib Cable, then they will apply for such.

With the Box on the basic service and you have two Televisions in your house and you would like to have the Basic cable service on both of them, its going to cost you $4.29 per month extra in Electricity bill (VAT Not inclusive) plus the $10.00 for the extra BOX.

Just think about the Hotel and Tourism industry.

The BOX is not necessary for the BASIC CABLE package.

Lincoln E. Prescott

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Teachers  accused of causing damage to children
    Front Page
    Teachers accused of causing damage to children
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    Some members of educational institutions here are causing psychological damage to children who have speech and communication disorders, calling them n...
    Doctor under  investigation for  allegedly striking cop with a vehicle
    Front Page
    Doctor under investigation for allegedly striking cop with a vehicle
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    Prominent Consultant Urologist and Urologic Surgeon, Dr. Rohan DeShong, who pleaded guilty on one traffic violation count, and not guilty to two other...
    Soca, Ragga Soca artistes to light up Carnival City in Saturday Semi-finals
    Front Page
    Soca, Ragga Soca artistes to light up Carnival City in Saturday Semi-finals
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    The 22 artistes who will vie for a spot in the Big Bad Soca Monarch finals on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Carnival City, have been announced and, follo...
    Quarry operations in Richmond may come under review
    Front Page
    Quarry operations in Richmond may come under review
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    Minister of Tourism and Parliamentary Representative for North Leeward, Dr. Kishore Shallow, says efforts will be made to address concerns surrounding...
    Mother blames  system for destroying her son’s mental health
    Front Page
    Mother blames system for destroying her son’s mental health
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    A mother of a 27-year-old mentally ill man says the systems, procedures, and policies that are in place to protect and help are the ones that have neg...
    UN official urges shift from response to prevention on development issues for SVG
    Front Page
    UN official urges shift from response to prevention on development issues for SVG
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    The United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Simon Springett, has urged developmental partners to abandon isolated p...
    News
    Rural Carnivals set the stage for VincyMas 2026
    News
    Rural Carnivals set the stage for VincyMas 2026
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    The weekend of June 5-7, 2026, saw the warming up for VincyMas, The Great Escape, as rural carnivals in North Leeward, South Leeward and East St. Geor...
    No official report as yet on police shooting of vehicle at Arnos Vale
    News
    No official report as yet on police shooting of vehicle at Arnos Vale
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    Up to the time of going to press, the police were yet to release details on one of their operations that involved gunfire and sent people scampering o...
    Government signs MoU to lease Cruise Ship Port
    News
    Government signs MoU to lease Cruise Ship Port
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    When Global Ports Holdings (GPH) took over the cruise ship port in Nassau, Bahamas, what a cruise ship tourist spends moved from $56 per person/per pa...
    Son jailed for illegal gun and ammo possession; charges against parents withdrawn
    From the Courts, News
    Son jailed for illegal gun and ammo possession; charges against parents withdrawn
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    A Union Island couple witnessed their son being sentenced to prison for 36 months after the family was initially charged with illegally possessing one...
    Man accused of arson granted $10,000 bail
    From the Courts, News
    Man accused of arson granted $10,000 bail
    Webmaster 
    June 12, 2026
    A Layou man was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 for allegedly setting a woman’s house on fire and destroying over EC$10,000 worth of items. Ray Pat...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok