n Cable operators and programmers rely grl paid by cookumen to main tain their systems and pro vide mare and better ser vice and programming," explains Kathryn Hilton Creech, President of the Council for Cable Infor mation, a New York-based Industry group.* "The quality and quantity of “-“a*-1-sSrnvailahle*on ‘subscriber’ checkout Hne,” as some executives have stated, through “scrambling” devices. These devices win prevent non-paying viewers from receiving programs if the monthly fees have not been paid for the service. Programs would be scram held at the source, and an unscrambling device, to provide dear reception of the program, would be supplied to cable subscribers or antenna owners who pay a monthly fee for it. The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 authorized cable - system operators -to scramble cable TV signals. (If signals are not scrambled, they may be lawfully received through non-dish antennas.) Scrambling and Decoding How It Works In simple ' terms, scrambling works by taking apart the TV picture and sound track - through a special code, splintering it into millions of fragments and rearranging them. The rearranged pattern ia transmitted to ‘ the communications satellite in space. Backward dish antennas can pick up die coded signal; but viewenrwill.see they mist have STapedai decoder boat, which will be available to regular sub scribers and those dish antenna owners who pay a monthly fee for its use. To avoid the need for many separate coding and decoding systems for all the varied pay services available, efforts are being nude within the cable industry to establish a standardised unit. A centralised computerised scrambler system is being sought into which all systems could feed, and _ _ • * \ which would require a single decoding device for the cable consumer. When aad Hew Mach? Many program services are now testing scrambling devices. HBO; Gnemax, Showtime and Turner Broadcasting are among those poised and ready for > a 1986 start. HBO will begin scrambling all programming on January 15, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Others are following doee on their heels in testing and buying scrambling technology. Even broadcast networks are beginning to scramble satellite program “feeds” to their affiliate stations. While some groups of owners have requested a ~ moratorium on scrambling for two years, industry experts predict that scrambling will be well under way by the end of 1986. Costs to dish antenna owners for descrambling the many available cable services, though fair, will vary. “And with everyone paying their fair share,” notes Creech, “cable programmers and cable delivery systems can continue to offer the very best in technical capability and superior entertainment and iuiotljsatioh program ming.’’ DAILIES DO IT OFTEN... WEEKLIES DO IT BEST! READ THE CHARLOTTE POST SUBSCRIBE TODAY! P GOAN j if I don't get to read The Post every week! DON'T TAKE THE RISK Call 376-0496 Don't gamble with community news. Subscribe to IMPOST and be a winner every time! Call 376-0496 CLIFF & SON AUTO UP II0U1 MY ■n*lBl Yo* ^ Nappy Naw Yar Tow la 18 For AU Your Upholstery Needs On Can SPECIALIZING IN VINYL TOPS — ! 2«7 N. Try on at 30th St. | (Behind United Automotive) ‘--- - - - - P-»' 'v* >>* SMILE its a ]S[eu; r* Year IT* A GOOD TIME FOR THE GREAT TASTE