Movieplex is a premium cable network .
In more recent years , premium cable refers to networks , such as Cinemax , Epix , Flix , HBO , Showtime , Starz Encore , Starz and ( prior to 1997 ) the Disney Channel , that scramble or encrypt their signals so that only those paying additional monthly fees to their cable system can legally view them ( via the use of a converter box ) ; however , premium services have the discretion to offer the service unencrypted in conjunction with a certain number of cable providers during a short-term free preview period to allow cable subscribers that do not subscribe to a premium service to sample its programming , the concept being that interested subscribers could consider subscribing to the pay service during the preview period .
Cable television in the United States