[opendtv] Re: Let them eat cake (and ATSC while they're at it)
- From: Bob Miller <bob@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 21:17:24 -0400
Tom Barry wrote:
>Craig Birkmaier wrote:
>
>
>
>>At 11:50 PM -0400 5/16/05, Tom Barry wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>I think any backers would have had to buy into that same football
>>>liability. Meanwhile some of the Freeview success may have been
>>>due to the initial purchase price and terms.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>There is NOTHING difficult to understand here. It is being repeated
>>in the US bu USDTV.
>>
>>When offered a pared down multichannel service at a pared down price
>>the market is limited, as first you must find people who are willing
>>to pay, but not willing to pay a bit more for a service with more
>>content. In the case of OnDigital versus BSkyB, Sky was winning.
>>
>>When Freeview offered a pared down service for FREE, the dynamics
>>changed entirely.
>>
>>
>>
>
>But the ABILITY to offer a not too badly pared down service for
>free may have depended somewhat on decreased startup costs in
>picking up the skeleton of OnDigital on good terms.
>
>
>
>>USDTV is facing the same challenge, not to mention the ATSC reception
>>challenge. They are not competitive because they do not offer the
>>channels that many people want.
>>
>>
>>
>
>Actually I'll wager a six pack of beer that USDTV would become a
>success with their current price and offering if they just had
>Cold Fusion plug and play receivers.
>
>- Tom
>
>
>
>>Regards
>>Craig
>>
Maybe but a doubling of programming by using MPEG4 would help. The
combination is a killer. Has been IMO since 1999 when we were proposing
to use VP4 and COFDM. A decent receiver with a decent codec. It seemed
to be COFDM and VP4 then it is COFDM and MPEG4 or VP7 now. I would call
it a point of inflection. France may prove the point. They will use
MPEG4, COFDM and deliver HD in a subscription service. The only thing I
would change is the HD, I would deliver a mix of resolutions and insure
mobile reception. But France will be a good test.
When we contacted Hisense immediately after Mark Aitken's informing us
of the promise of the 5th gen LG receiver and Hisense told us that they
could use the LG chip USDTV was in on a conference call and seemed
elated at the possibility witnessed by their press release a week or so
later that they would use Hisense 5th gen receivers.
All since retracted I believe. They claim that the current receiver will
support MPEG4. But they know how important a good receiver is, they are
living it.
Bob Miller
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