# How is this possible? (cable TV question) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876 "2008-01-24T21:45:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/1 "2008-01-24T21:45:16Z")
We subscribe to digital cable “extended basic” service, which means we get all the free cable channels (including HD) but no premium channels. Our main TV in the family room has a cable box, with which we can access all the available channels as well as the On Demand pay-per-view programming. Until recently, our other TV was a 15 year-old 13” analog set in the kitchen. However, it was killed by a lightning strike a few weeks ago and we replaced it with an inexpensive 13” tube set with a dual analog/digital tuner. The other day I was flipping through the digital channels on this new TV and of course found all the basic digital channels – basically just digital versions of the local broadcast stations, plus WGN, CSPAN, and a couple of others. As I continued up the dial, I found a number of channels that displayed the message “Signal is encrypted.” Without a cable box, that made perfect sense. However, as I scanned higher channels (starting at 104-001) I started seeing movies like The Simpsons, Waitress, and other recent films. Also – depending on the time of day – a lot of children’s shows and/or porn. At first I thought I was receiving some premium movie channels, but I’ve found that the same channel might be showing Dora the Explorer one hour and then an Anna Nicole Smith Playboy special a little while later. Also, I’ve noticed that sometimes movies will suddenly fast forward through a scene or multiple scenes; or stop altogether before the movie is over. And there are never any network-identifying bumpers between movies. In other words, I’m pretty sure I’m seeing “On Demand” movies. I can’t control them, or predict what will be on when, but I can watch them – about 20-30 channels worth (but they are not all active at the same time). And only on this little cable box-less TV. How can this possibly be happening? Could I be “peeking in” on movies that my neighbors are watching? And is there any way for the cable company to know? ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/2 "2008-01-24T21:52:17Z")
[QUOTE=Skammer] Also, I’ve noticed that sometimes movies will suddenly fast forward through a scene or multiple scenes; or stop altogether before the movie is over. [/QUOTE] Please tell me that this is just happening with the porn, and not Dora the Explorer. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/3 "2008-01-24T21:56:12Z")
I know I remembered reading this article on Slate, and [here](http://www.slate.com/id/2167389/) it is. It apparently is possible to watch your neighbors porn. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/4 "2008-01-24T22:09:22Z")
Wow, thank for that link Bill! That’s exactly what’s happening. Kinda cool, when I’m in the mood to watch random TV. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/5 "2008-01-24T22:10:12Z")
[QUOTE=Skammer] In other words, I’m pretty sure I’m seeing “On Demand” movies. [/QUOTE] You are. For a real barrel of laughs, when coming across some porn, watch what your neighbors like to fast-forward and slo-mo through. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/6 "2008-01-24T22:17:08Z")
That explains why the porn movies often suddenly stop right after a climactic scene, and why it kept fast forwarding through Anna Nicole’s interview segments. Err, not that I’ve been watching a lot of them or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/7 "2008-01-24T22:38:36Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] For a real barrel of laughs, when coming across some porn, watch what your neighbors like to fast-forward and slo-mo through. [/QUOTE] Pretty sure that I’m not going to be thinking about the neighbors while I’m coming across porn. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/8 "2008-01-24T22:52:34Z")
This is exactly what happened to my bf’s roommate’s tv. The hyphenated channels where we’d see premium movies and every once in awhile, porn. Complete with fast forwarding. And it would suck when we’d catch the beginning of a movie we actually wanted to watch then someone switched it off, haha. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-possible-cable-tv-question/434876/9 "2008-01-25T15:44:28Z")
[QUOTE=Skammer] Kinda cool, when I’m in the mood to watch random TV. [/QUOTE] Now THAT’s progress. You no longer need to even press buttons to channel surf.