[opendtv] Re: News: Tuner Comments Fly


Craig Birkmaier wrote:
 > A filing from Disney stated that all new TV receivers should have
 > ATSC tuner in them as soon as humanly possible.
 >
 > "Although the smaller sets are undoubtedly lower cost, it seems
 > intuitive that these sets also will be unlikely to be connected to
 > cable and instead will be placed in viewers' kitchens, bathrooms, or
 > will be used when viewers are traveling," the Disney filing stated.
 > "For these sets to be sold with no capacity to receive a digital
 > signal will only increase the number of sets that will need a
 > converter box, or that will qualify for a subsidy, and will only
 > increase viewer confusion about the digital transition."
 >
It also seems unlikely those sets will be connected to roof top 
antennas.  And their low price makes it unlikely they would get the more 
expensive tuners.  I wonder how well those kitchen and bathroom DTV sets 
will work with $40 tuners and rabbit ears?

- Tom

> http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=3131
> 
> Date posted: 2005-07-29
> 
> Tuner Comments Fly
> 
> The comments started rolling in this week on the FCC action seeking 
> more information on DTV tuners. The commission has proposed moving up 
> the date -- from the end of 2007 to the end of '06 -- when all TVs 
> with screens 13 inches and larger must include digital over-the-air, 
> or ATSC, tuners. The same proposal seeks feedback on whether TVs 
> smaller than 13 inches should be included in the mandate.
> 
> Darn right, they ought to, said the broadcast lobbies. In a joint 
> filing, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Association 
> for Maximum Service Television also suggested that the FCC move the 
> final deadline up even more, although it was not specific about 
> exactly how much.
> 
> "MSTV and NAB absolutely support the commission's proposal to move 
> the DTV tuner deadline to Dec. 31, 2006 and respectfully suggest that 
> the commission should consider the feasibility of moving that 
> deadline to an even earlier date," the filing stated.
> 
> Motorola, a major supplier of set-top boxes, filed a comment 
> suggesting the FCC kick the final date up to Nov. 1, 2006, to catch 
> holiday shoppers. Motorola also urged the commission to enforce the 
> tuner act to prevent further delays in freeing up the 700 MHz public 
> safety spectrum, for which Motorola is poised to sell beaucoup radios.
> 
> The Consumer Electronics Association expressed a marked lack of 
> enthusiasm for moving up the tuner-integration date because the time 
> frame is too tight. Manufacturers need at least 18 to 24 months to 
> integrate tuners into the production cycle, the CEA contends.
> 
> The organization also has a beef with a 13-and-under requirement, 
> given the potential cost add-on of an ATSC tuner. Using estimates 
> provided by the chip maker Zoran, the CEA in its filing said 
> integrating an ATSC tuner would add around $65 to a small standalone 
> device and between $80 and $120 to an existing one.
> 
> "Thirteen-inch color TV receivers sell at retail for $69 - $79, which 
> is less than the increase in their cost projected by Zoran," the CEA 
> stated.
> 
> ATI, another chip maker, submitted a comment stating that the cost of 
> adding DTV reception capability to a TV set would run around $40 by 
> the fall of 2006.
> 
> A filing from Disney stated that all new TV receivers should have 
> ATSC tuner in them as soon as humanly possible.
> 
> "Although the smaller sets are undoubtedly lower cost, it seems 
> intuitive that these sets also will be unlikely to be connected to 
> cable and instead will be placed in viewers' kitchens, bathrooms, or 
> will be used when viewers are traveling," the Disney filing stated. 
> "For these sets to be sold with no capacity to receive a digital 
> signal will only increase the number of sets that will need a 
> converter box, or that will qualify for a subsidy, and will only 
> increase viewer confusion about the digital transition."
>  
>  
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