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From: dan@prism.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Are pay TV decoders legal?
Message-ID: <2700003@prism.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 16-Nov-85 15:42:00 EST
Article-I.D.: prism.2700003
Posted: Sat Nov 16 15:42:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Nov-85 01:02:15 EST
Lines: 42
Nf-ID: #N:prism:2700003:000:1749
Nf-From: prism!dan    Nov 16 15:42:00 1985


    For the last month or so there has been an ad in the Boston
Globe advertising "subscription TV Decoders."  I thought these
were illegal.  Apparently they're not since this is a good sized
ad (4 x 5 inches), and has been running for awhile.  Does anyone
know anything about these things?  If they're legitimate they sound
like a pretty good deal.  It sounds especially enticing since we
don't yet have cable in Cambridge.

    Here is some of the information given in the ad:
*****************************************************************
PREVIEW -- Vancouver Video Enterprises, Ltd. presents
              Zenith SSAVI 1  Descrambler System
                   Subscription TV Decoders

NO CABLE?  NO PAY TV?  TIRED OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS?  POOR SERVICE?
You can now OWN your own decoder.

o  No installation needed -- unit connects externally to any
   TV and/or VCR.
o  Utilizes any UHF antenna.
o  Compatible with any VCR.
o  Non-addressable -- cannot be turned off by pay TV company.
o  Can be used in other locations if you move.
o  Perfectly legal to own according to new Federal anti trust
   legislation.
o  Works with or without cable -- homes, apartments, offices, anywhere.
o  Most of the same movies offered on cable plus adult features not
   available on cable -- and no monthly fee!

Only $149.00.  Our Zenith decoder is identical to that being used
by Preview Pay TV.  It enables you to view all phases of Preview
TV Programming.
*****************************************************************

Is this too good to be true? or what's the catch?
---------------------
  Dan Solis             {mit-eddie, ihnp4!inmet, wjh12, cca} !mirror!dan
  Mirror Systems, Inc.
  2067 Massachusetts Ave.
  Cambridge, MA 02140
  (617) 661-0777