Random free HD cable in the 100+ channels?

Network and cable HD channels without cable box?

• I just bought a new HD tv last week, and all I have is Comcast basic cable. It comes from the wall straight to the tv, no cable box of any kind. I was expecting to get the national network channels in HD, but I'm also receiving over 20 cable channels in HD also. I'm getting espn, espn2, comcast sportsnet, TNT, USA, and TBS in HD, just to name a few. Even earlier today I was able to watch the movie '300' in HD on a channel in the 100's. 'Transformers' was also on this channel not too long ago today. I'm also getting those 30 or 40 different stations that play nothing but music too. Right now, Howard Stern's in demand show is airing on another station. I'm not complaining or anything, but I really wasn't expecting this when I plugged my basic cable into my tv. Has anybody heard about anything like this before? For now alls I can do is sit back and enjoy =)

• Answer:

  Yea, I've heard of that before. The easy explanation is that your cable company is not using any encryption on their on-demand frequencies. When you did an automatic channel search, some people on your node happened to be watching an on-demand event and your TV picked up those frequencies and stored them as channels. You'll probably notice that it picked up some other channels that don't show anything. That's because there was an event playing on that stream at the time of your channel scan and the event was over when you tried to view it. If I were you, I would enjoy the free shows. Maybe even run another channel scan on a Sunday night or on a holiday when more people are likely to be watching on-demand. You'll probably pick up even more channels.