[opendtv] Re: News: FCC Adopts DTV-Related Items

Tom Barry wrote:


Just a personal opinion, but I think everybody would be better off
if they all (FCC, broadcasters, cable guys, CE guys) cut a deal such
that:

1) The cable guys would agree carry to the PRIMARY channel of
all must carry and (maybe subject to retrans consent) network
shows in the lifeline (limited basic) tier in unencrypted QAM
MPEG-2 format, and
I too have thought this for a long time. If anything, broadcasters only really needed to concentrate on must-carry of their primary digital program. Then let the cable companies and their subscribers fight it out on matters of D/A conversion for subscribers with analog sets or the OTA multicasts. It always appears like the OTA broadcasters don't trust in the desirability of their product.
And I don't understand why a cable system would need to encrypt the FOTA programs, either. 


2) The broadcasters would not push for any more analog or
 multi-must-carry, and

3) The CE guys would sometimes (and foolishly sometimes not)
offer the option of digital unencrypted QAM reception for
profitable but minimal extra cost in new digital TV's, PVR's, etc.
Optionally they can also try to sell some cable card TV's if they
think that works for them.
I always assume, perhaps wrongly, that QAM reception is the norm for ATSC receivers. Since 8-VSB/QAM tuners have been available for such a long time, it seems almost pointless NOT to offer that. Ever since Broadcom (IIRC) first made such a receiver, ca. 2000, it seemed to me that the intent of the Grand Alliance 8-VSB/16-VSB tuners was met, in practice. 


4) Cable a la carte pricing would be left as a separate issue to be
worked out later somehow.

Since all new TV's are now digital, including the low end, the agreement
would give consumers a bit more incentive to buy new TV's in the
couple years before the cut-off and help get the cable networks to
all digital, adding lots of bandwidth and thus lowering the cost of
providing other channels as economics might demand.
Absolutely. Honestly, I've never understood why cable systems, CE companies, and even the pundits of the trade press, so often seem to have this knee-jerk reaction to oppose such integrated receivers. It's truly weird. It's almost like they feel they have to oppose it JUST BECAUSE the FCC was lobbying CE companies to go this way. If the govt wants it, it must be bad.
I always get a kick out of trade journalists who become indignant on integrated receivers, CableCard, etc. As if for some reason, we consumers should PREFER to be made dependent on cable system STBs. These guys sure ain't speaking for consumers.
Still, now some cable companies are showing interest in incorporating OTA receivers in their STBs. So go figure. What a strange, convoluted business this is. 

Bert

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