CableCARD Guide - Conclusion

Do I really need a CableCARD slot with my new HDTV?

First, let’s weigh the pro’s and con’s of having a CableCARD slot in your new HDTV:

Pros:

- Smaller size and less obtrusive than a set-top box

Cons:

- CableCARD’s are capable of one-way communication only – meaning that video-on-demand and pay-per-view services are not available if you use a CableCARD. This is important to note if you enjoy the convenience of ordering movies through your cable or satellite provider through an “on demand” service, as these services are not available if you use a CableCARD. It is also important if you like the interactive program guide that allows you to select a particular movie or TV show and see the details about which actors / actresses are in the show, what year it was made in, etc.
- Some cable and satellite providers charge extra monthly fees for use of CableCARDs
- Some cable and satellite providers charge extra for the installation (especially if you are replacing a current set-top box with a CableCARD)

So, the bottom line is that a CableCARD does not provide any real benefit to the average consumer looking for a new HDTV. It is not going to provide any improvement in picture quality or sound quality and will not help you save money over using a set-top box. If you are planning to hang a plasma or LCD HDTV on a wall and don’t want a set-top box to be visible at all, a CableCARD equipped HDTV may make sense for you. If you are very limited in terms of the available space for the components connected to your HDTV, you may value the idea of using a small, credit card-sized CableCARD instead of a larger set-top box.