But how much of the extra cost is MPEG-4? That should be quite an advantage in the long run. Or did the MPEG-4 folks finally end up pricing it mostly out of the market? I stopped following that part.
- Tom Dermot Nolan wrote:
The following IBC article makes it clear the Brazilian implementation of ISDB-T is essentially a new system requiring its own middleware, own decoders (the current Japanese system is MPEG2), own CA system, own API, etc etc etc. The article points out that receiver costs and royalties are likely to be too high and Brazil now looks very isolated in its choice of DTV system as its lobbying has probably failed with the System N countries in South America. A not unsurprising development: 'Its the economics yet again...'Kind Regards, Dermot Nolan IBC Daily e-news September 08 2007 A Latin American first for DVBDespite hefty lobbying efforts from Brazil with its adapted Japanese DTV system and from the other DTV and MTV standards bodies, Uruguay has decided to adopt DVB-T and DVB-H for its fixed and mobile digital terrestrial TV broadcasting, writes George Jarrett.President Tabaré Vázquez and the Minister of Industry, Jorge Lepra, announced the decree just prior to IBC, with undersecretary Martín Ponce de León stating that the DVB standards will allow Uruguay to, "actively participate in the process of technological development through investments, and through the development of software and content."According to Peter MacAvock, executive director of the DVB Project, Uruguay's decision comes ahead of anticipated DTV moves by Argentina, Chile, Venezuala, Columbia Peru, and possibly Paraguay."The Uruguayans were not interested in the Brazilian system, perhaps for the issue of receiver costs," he said. "Opting to go for H.264 and creating their own middleware essentially renders the Brazilian technology a new system. But it is a logical stage on in terms of MPEG-4."The significance of Uruguay's decision is that Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina are all 50Hz countries operating PAL N," he added. "All of those counties (above) have or are about to stage trials. Each of them is anxious to get trials on air to compare the different systems, and come back at us with, 'Okay. We are looking'."By opting for DVB-T and DVB-H, Uruguay becomes part of DVB's global market. It can take advantage of the wide variety of professional and consumer offerings at the lowest possible prices for making its transition from analogue to digital TV."Uruguay's Comisión Nacional de Televisión Digital Terrestre Abierta conducted a 12-month evaluation of the DVB and its US and Japanese alternatives. Amongst the criteria it considered were the provision for both fixed and mobile TV and HDTV services, interactivity, spectrum efficiency, and the development of national technologies.Putting Uruguay's decision in deeper perspective, URSEC (Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones) president Leon Lev said: "The timely adoption of (DVB-T and DVB-H) is an initial step to facilitate the development of DTV by allowing all involved players to understand the regulatory framework which will be the basis for the transition to digital TV in Uruguay."1.481
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