CableCARD ™

A card security available on the providers of cable TV. It allows a TV with CableCARD option, to receive digital cable programming, including premium and HD channels, without using a separate box. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) began to require cable service providers to make available the card CableCARD from July 1, 2004.

CableCard makes your set Digital Cable Ready (DCR), eliminating the need for a set-top box from your cable provider to get both standard and high-def programming. Theoretically, CableCard is a step up from sets that offer built-in HD tuners, which are basically useful only if you get HDTV over an antenna.