[opendtv] Re: FCC Eliminates Simulcast Rules
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "OpenDTV (E-mail)" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 12:48:21 -0400
John Golitsis wrote:
> The only advantage I can see a broadcaster taking is to
> show MORE desirable content on their digital channel.
> Take the Olympics, for example. If NBC was tied to a
> simulcast rule, they would not have been able to offer
> the different HD coverage of the games that they did.
It would have made no difference. The simulcast rule only
said that the "main" program stream shown in the analog
channel had to be simulcast in a digital channel. It didn't
say that main stream had to be HDTV. In theory, other
subchannels of the digital channel could have been HD
rather than the main channel, or none needed be HDTV.
During the Olympics, it would seem to me that NBC could
transmit their main Bob Costas channel over analog and
over one digital subchannel, and then other streams as
they saw fit over other digital subchannels. This seems
to be the intent of the FCC, then *and* now.
Without the simulcast requirement in place, instead, NBC
could have transmitted the main Bob Costas channel only
over analog (for example), and then used the digital
6 MHz only for the more specialized streams. That would
have justifiably p*ssed off the NCTA. The analog 6 MHz
is meant to be only for purposes of a smooth transition.
So again, I'm baffled why the FCC wants to give their
critics more fodder for wailing.
Bert
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