Digital cable transmits compressed digital video over cable networks to a set-top box or app that decodes, displays and interacts with the operator. Modern boxes support DVR, 4K/UHD, HDR, and on-demand services; parental controls and two-way communication enable purchases and cloud DVR. While streaming services have changed viewing habits, digital cable still provides extensive live channel lineups, local broadcasts and bundled broadband.
What is digital cable?
Digital cable is the delivery of television signals as digital data over a cable operator's network rather than as analog RF channels. Operators send compressed video streams to a customer-facing device - a set-top box, gateway or app - which decodes the streams for your TV.
How set-top boxes work now
Modern set-top boxes perform several jobs: they decrypt and decode video, provide a user interface (guide, apps, search), and handle two-way communication with the operator for video-on-demand, purchases and software updates. Hardware features range from basic decoding to built-in DVRs, 4K/UHD and HDR playback, voice remotes, and streaming app integration.
Cable networks use digital modulation and compressed video codecs so operators can carry many more channels and services over the same spectrum than the old analog systems allowed. Early deployments used MPEG-2; most systems have since moved to more efficient codecs such as H.264/HEVC, and newer codecs (for example AV1) are emerging for streaming and broadcast use .
Interactivity and services
Because the network supports an upstream return path, cable systems can offer interactive features: on-demand libraries, interactive program guides, targeted advertising, pay-per-view or transactional video-on-demand, and parental controls that lock specific programs behind a PIN. Many operators also offer cloud DVRs so recordings live on the operator's servers rather than only on your box.
Audio and video quality
Digital delivery lets operators support higher resolutions and modern audio formats. 4K/UHD channels and HDR are increasingly available, and multichannel audio such as Dolby Digital 5.1 is common on movies and sports. Support for immersive formats (Dolby Atmos and others) exists in some services and devices but varies by operator and device 1.
The context today: cable vs streaming
Cable operators still provide large live lineups, local channels, and bundled broadband, but they now compete with streaming services and devices. That competition has driven new features (cloud DVR, unified search, apps) and a mix of hardware and app-based solutions: some customers use an operator set-top box, while others access live cable-provided streams through apps on smart TVs or streaming devices.
Why it still matters
Digital cable remains relevant for viewers who want broad live channel lineups, local broadcasts, reliable multicast delivery of live sports and news, and a single-bill service that bundles broadband. If you buy a modern TV, pairing it with a compatible box or the operator's app can unlock HD/4K channels, on-demand libraries, and parental controls.
- Confirm the extent of AV1 deployment by major cable operators for broadcast or streaming as of August 2025.
- Verify which major cable operators support immersive audio formats (e.g., Dolby Atmos) on their set-top boxes or apps as of August 2025.