yes thats true for the US markets shadow, however it doesnt stop VM taking the long term view and selecting several 3rd partys to provide said DVB-C card and matching CI CAM while VM supply the security card for the slot.
but iv said all this for a very long time now,this kit exists today, no specially made kit needs producing, just pick some off the shelf vendors kit and let the VM end user have it....
even the current VM STB vendors will have such kit already produced but being sold in other countys as VM dont currently allow this basic kit on their cable.
they could have eather the 3rd partys sell these units or VM themselves could sell or rent these advanced kit as their own OEM re-badge and make good profits in the process.
not to mention grow their customer base by a lot as PC users can then take these units as their first or second cable service to name but two simple options.
theres no real reason for VM not to do this and infact lots of reasons they should if long term profit growth is their aim, the end users will like it as it gives them far more options than they currently have now.
not least access to the direct mpeg2 data for streaming to the LAN or TV if you happen to have an STB device that has that option, again its a shame the VM STB doesnt do this already.
---------- Post added at 16:17 ---------- Previous post was at 16:00 ----------
ohh i forgot to mention , theres even a free interactive set top box firmware being developed now, and like me they are advocating the use of PowerPC SOC as the STB engine as its powerful ,cheap and low energy requirements.
http://www.cineca.tv/labs/jtv/