[Jeffhs]

That the TV's video adjustments were set at maximum, or close to it, is very likely why the set was producing an overcontrasted picture with oversaturated colors. I've heard of this happening with flat-panel TVs on display in stores; the display sets on the sales floor are simply unpacked, plugged in and connected to the store's MATV or cable system (if any), then the picture controls are set at ridiculously high levels, if not absolute maximum. The sets are probably not scanned when the cable is connected to them, so they will pick up literally everything on the area's cable system -- including public access channels, community information channels, the area's local stations and must-carry cable channels, et al. The cable system in my area (Time Warner) carries all the channels I mentioned, including school access channels. The public-access channels (all of which are meant for specific areas miles away from where I live) do not interest me in the least, so I delete them from the scan list on my flat TV.

I also delete MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic, etc. from that list, since they have "music" that does not interest me one bit (I think it's nothing but noise, and the content of the videos--sheeesh); that leaves me with about 40 channels, including the local network affiliates and the TV Guide Channel, to say nothing of Antenna TV, MeTV and RTV. The cable system here is amazing; it probably has over 1000 (you read that correctly, one thousand) channels, most if not all of the higher ones being the HD versions of the locals and the must-carry channels. My set won't tune to those channels, and I wouldn't pay the $5 a month TW charges for the DTV cable box. I suppose if I had a 42-inch or larger home theater setup and watched a lot of sports, movies, etc. I would pay the extra charge for the box, but since I live in a small apartment and have a 19" FP (the largest set I feel I need in this place), plus a small but growing collection of classic TV shows and movies on DVD/VHS and a subscription to Netflix, I just don't see the need for any more TV channels coming in on the cable.