[opendtv] Ofcom 'must reserve spectrum for HD on DTT'

(Presumably, the Ofcom idea would be to change the four Freeview
multiplexes currently using 16-QAM to 64-QAM, freeing up maybe 6 Mb/s
avg for one HD program stream in each.)

I guess that the DTG is nervous about this plan. I figure what makes
them nervous is that they have to refigure the planning factors, because
a power increase would be required to retain the same coverage as now.
And the other risk is whether H.264 is really good enough to fit fast HD
content in 6 Mb/s average. For example, the French are planning to
increase each 24 Mb/s channel from two to three HD streams, in their
next HDTV trial, but that still gives an average 8 Mb/s to each stream.

Bert

-------------------------------------------
http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=2574

Ofcom 'must reserve spectrum for HD on DTT'

DTG director general Richard Lindsay-Davies has called on Ofcom to
reserve spectrum for public service broadcasters to broadcast
high-definition channels on Freeview "until industry experts are
confident that the efficiency gains required from technological advances
are realised and contractual issues and regulatory barriers are
addressed".

Responding to Ofcom's view that four HD channels could be offered within
existing spectrum, Lindsay-Davies told a Voice of the Listener and
Viewer (VLV) policy seminar that the regulator's recognition of the
importance of HDTV on all platforms was welcomed.

But Lindsay-Davies said it would be "dangerous to place the future of
Freeview in the hands of what is currently a high risk and unproven
plan".

"Ofcom must reserve spectrum until this proposal is guaranteed to
deliver," said Lindsay-Davies.

Earlier this week, Ofcom CEO Ed Richards reiterated the regulator's view
that four HD channels could be carried on Freeview using existing
spectrum and advanced compression technology.

Ofcom is about to conduct new market research on its digital dividend
review (DDR) after receiving 750 responses to its earlier DDR
consultation. An alliance of public service broadcasters, consumer
electronics manufacturers and retailers is lobbying Ofcom and the
Government to reserve some spectrum for HD channels on Freeview.

Earlier this month, a Westminster Media Forum seminar on HD heard from
Freeview general manager Ilse Howling that three quarters of consumers
with HD-ready TVs expected HD on Freeview, and said they valued HD more
than they would value additional television channels.

Lovelace Consulting 20.07.2007
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:

- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at 
FreeLists.org 

- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word 
unsubscribe in the subject line.

Other related posts: