[opendtv] Re: How Many In US Use ATSC?
- From: Bob Miller <robmxa@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 12:41:17 -0500
On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 12:18 PM, <dan.grimes@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> "In total over 18 million UK homes use Freeview on at least one TV set in
> the home." (http://dvb.org/about_dvb/dvb_worldwide/united_kingdom/)
>
> "That is 70% of households and about the same percentage have Internet
> access.
>
> "My comment on Freeview and the UK had nothing to do with broadband.
> Only meant to point out that broadcasters, if they had paid attention
> to their OTA stuff, could be in a position of saying to the FCC that
> 80% or more of US households actually use OTA today."
>
> -Bob Miller
>
>
> To respond, maybe 80% do! Yet, probably not.
>
> The question is, how many in the US are using FOTA/ATSC? We cannot use the
> numbers of how many are using MVPD because it does not account for what
> source is used per television. We all know that many are using ATSC in an
> alternate area such as the kitchen or bathroom. Can anyone fill in the
> blank to this sentence?
>
> "In total, over _______ US homes use Free Over The Air on at least one TV
> set in the home."
>
> Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that the second set should be
> protected from being disenfranchised with the demise of FOTA. There are
> certainly ways, albeit difficult, to getting an MVPD signal to those
> locations. And when NTSC converted to ATSC, many already were converted.
>
> But I certainly think we should consider it in the decision making process.
>
> Dan Grimes
If 80% of US households use OTA even on a second set then the chance
of the FCC taking back broadcasters spectrum is nil. Even if it was
20% on secondary sets it would be impossible IMO. Even if only 10%.
But if for the last 10 years you could have easily received OTA fixed
and even mobile and broadcasters had paid attention to and promoted
their OTA then there would not even be a question about it. No one
would even be bringing it up.
I find it hilarious that broadcasters now express shock that the issue
is on the table. The only surprise to me is that it happened so soon
after analog shutdown. I thought it would take a year or two.
The other question is how much viewing on secondary sets is taking
place. Say 20% of secondary sets have OTA access but only 1% of
viewing is done on said sets.
And is it possible that broadcasters are expressing shock and will
fight tooth and nail to preserve their spectrum is only a bid for a
big payday? How many would be happy to take the cash, keep the fig
leaf of OTA via SD broadcast on consolidated channels and preserve
must carry while taking a substantial part of any auction proceeds? I
think it is possible.
Bob Miller
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