Cracking the Digital Safe

Cable World, June 4, 2001 by David Connell

Following the Maryland program, Comcast found several pirates and is in the midst of bringing legal action against them, according to Schmale. There are approximately 75 cases pending in the courts right now, he says, with more to come. Those cases involve people caught selling boxes and "repeat offenders" who have connected themselves or others to cable without paying.

Both Hack and Blair say they are skeptical of amnesty programs and don't use them to fight piracy and cable theft efforts.

"The broad approach with amnesty programs is not effective," Blair says. "You end up spending a lot of time and money on advertising and promotion and you don't get much conversion."

In New York City, Hack adds, there is little incentive for customers to voluntarily relinquish free cable through an amnesty program: "In New York, you pretty much have to come at them with the threat of handcuffs."