[opendtv] Re: Delay

  • From: "Bob Miller" <robmxa@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:11:53 -0500

Agreed, broadcasters always wanted must carry. I agree but don't know
this for a fact.

Agreed that this is a "D-uh" issue, that is why I said it if you read
the context.

Maybe when cable was a bigger threat, had significant market share,
broadcasters wanted and wielded more power to get must carry.

I was just trying to make an obvious point that broadcasters did have
a lot of power.

You are obviously far more knowledgeable on the subject. I give up.

Bob Miller

On 12/12/06, John Willkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So, now, you are stepping back from your statement that it was when cable
had significant market share.

As to broadcasters being "very instrumental" in the development of
must-carry:  D-uh.

It's like saying that automakers were very instrumental in the development
of paved roads, and trying to imply that there was something wrong with
that.

People generally operate in their own best interests.  If not, they should,
absent conflict with their ideals.

The truth is that broadcasters were wanted must-carry long, long before
cable tv was anything but a pipsqueak.

John Willkie

> -----Original Message-----
> From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Bob Miller
> Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 5:42 PM
> To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [opendtv] Re: Delay
>
> I stand by my statement that broadcasters were very instrumental in
> the creation of the current must carry laws. Your history lesson may
> have something to say about that though I can't parse it.
>
> Broadcasters still think they have such power since they seem bent on
> changing must carry to include multicast must carry.
>
> Bob Miller
>
> On 12/12/06, John Willkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it.  Nothing
> new
> > to you, right, Bob?
> >
> > The "must-carry" regulations of which you allude were first passed in
> > 1969-1971, involving KFMB-TV and what is now Time-Warner Cable and Cox
> Cable
> > in San Diego.  Have you ever read the documents in these cases?
> >
> > I have.
> >
> > The FCC passed it, thence it went to the supreme court, which at the
> time
> > assented.  Then, they passed another aspect, the cablers appealed, and
> > ultimately lost again.
> >
> > Cable penetration in the U.S. in 1971 was less than 10%, and CABLE ONLY
> > CARRIED BROADCAST STATIONS.
> >
> > Ultimately, Ted Turner filed a petition to overturn must-carry as
> > unconstitutional in 1980.  After EIGHT years of FCC inaction -- no doubt
> due
> > to concern on the FCC's part of what a grant would do to the TV
> marketplace
> > that they are supposed to regulate -- Turner's attorney, former FCC
> Chairman
> > (and a strong hater of the TV networks) Timothy Ferris got the Court of
> > Appeals to rule in his favor, and thence the Supremes.
> >
> > Congress re-enacted a constitutional replacement in 1992.  George Bush
> 41
> > vetoed it.  For the only time in his presidency, 2/3 of the House and
> Senate
> > voted to overturn the veto.
> >
> > The sad fact, apparently, is that none of the people in this case
> deferred
> > to your poisoned mind.
> >
> > I will leave any reply to your uninformed musings to others; I don't
> argue
> > with children.
> >
> > John Willkie
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-
> bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > On Behalf Of Bob Miller
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 9:12 AM
> > > To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [opendtv] Re: Delay
> > >
> > > On 12/12/06, Steve Wilson <stevenjwilson@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > > Regarding OTA - "It's just not relevant anymore for most consumers.
> "
> > > > Wasn't it Motorola and (?) who were the big proponents of 8VSB?  Its
> in
> > > > their best interest to delay OTA HDTV broadcast.  The last thing
> they
> > > > need is for consumer to figure out they can get it OTA for free.
> > > >
> > > > I hear we have finally figured out how to make tuners/demodulators
> that
> > > > resolve these multipath issues - but how makes them and where are
> they?
> > > > It seems like buying an HDTV tuner for a PC, for example, is a roll
> of
> > > > the dice.
> > > >
> > > > I am not an expert in RF signalling, but it seems to me the decision
> was
> > > > based, at least in great part, on politics - not on what
> broadcasters
> > > > wanted. How much influence would broadcasters have over a new cable
> > > > standard?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Broadcasters had enough influence to get must carry laws past.
> > > Basically they got the government to force cable to carry their
> > > signals when cable became too big a threat.
> > >
> > > They have not resolved those multipath issues with better 8-VSB
> > > receivers yet. Even the best receiver I have seen, the LG prototype
> > > never produced so far, was easy to defeat by walking in front of the
> > > antenna or standing in a particular position on either side of it.
> > >
> > > And there is no solution for dynamic multipath except for the promise
> of
> > > A-VSB.
> > >
> > > There are few manufacturers of any STBs for 8-VSB because correctly
> > > manufacturers see little market for them. Most manufacturers of STBs
> > > that you see producing for other countries have never produced an
> > > 8-VSB receiver and never will. If you ask them why their first answer
> > > will be laughter.
> > >
> > > Bob Miller
> > >
> > >
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