But the cable wouldn't be carrying a full load 24/7. Why not allow the box to track your viewing, then send the info back during periods of low usage like the wee hours of the morning?
This is exactly what my satellite did in order to track pay per view. They only need to upload the info once a week or once a day. However, they were doin' it with the phone land line, not the satellite connection. So Doc is probably right but only to the extent they aren't doin' with a "twisted Pair", yet. They do have limited bandwith, so unless it's truly interactive, I don't see it happenin' with standard cable/satellite.
I still see where a unit can store "Cookies" in the "box" though, and upload that info once a week, once a month, or even once a year. They must have some idea who's watchin' what, in order to charge for their advertising. Just like a server, you can tell when it is bein' taxed to it's limits, shit starts slowin' down.
My satellite internet transfers both ways, so actually when they bundle the two together, it is possible. Doesn't DirectTV have an internet and TV feed thru the same satellite dish?