The Dutch cable operator CAIW has started selling a special DVB-T plug-in tuner in order to prepare viewers for the upcoming analogue cable switch-off.
The receiver plus in on the back of any analogue TV set with a SCART connection on the back and allows reception of the 21 most popular and best watched channels, which are distributed on the CAIW network in DVB-T standard (see Broadband TV News passim).
Retaling at €19.90, the plug-in receiver provides an inexpensive option for customers to continue to receiver a number of cable channels across the home on second or third TV sets. CAIW will switch of all analogue channels on October 10, 2010. Until now,one of the advantages of cable was for people to have analogue reception across the home without the need for additional set-tops.
With the plug-in receiver, they will be able to continue to do this. CAIW is one of the first cable operators to carry a number of channels in the DVB-T standard as opposed to DVB-C to accommodate viewers with DVB-T tuners. Numericable in France is also pursuing the same route (see Broadband TV News)