[opendtv] Re: News: FCC Adopts DTV-Related Items
- From: "Viswambharan Manoj" <Manoj.Viswambharan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 11:40:29 -0400
Bert wrote:
>And I don't understand why a cable system would need to encrypt the
FOTA
>programs, either.
Maybe because the FOTA signals can still be received thru their "video
blocking" filters applied to Cable Modem users who don't subscribe to
CableTV services. Why pay for cable when you can receive 10+ channels
free and not have to bother with OTA Antenna headaches ?
-Manoj V, Princeton NJ
-----Original Message-----
From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Albert Manfredi
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 6:20 PM
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [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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