[opendtv] Re: Zenith/LG NOT announcing new STB's based upon 5'th gen chip

At 12:30 PM -0500 1/10/05, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
>Craig Birkmaier wrote:
>  > A better question to ask is: Why would they
>>  bother?
>
>A simple answer is: because the marketplace works.
>If they don't offer the good stuff, you can bet
>someone else will.

What?

FIRST, this is not the workings of a "marketplace." This is an 
attempt by government to set industrial policy and to force consumers 
to purchase something they do not want or need.

Second. How do OTA ATSC broadcasts qualify as "the good stuff?" If 
this is "the good stuff," why do 85% of U.S. homes pay extra for the 
"other" stuff?

>
>>  The most important customer for the 5th Gen LG
>>  chip is USDTV. No surprise here, as reliable
>>  reception of ATSC broadcasts is CRITICAL to their
>>  success.
>
>As it's critical to the success of anyone selling
>OTA TV equipment. DBS systems are HD challenged.
>If they can't depend on the OTA path today, it's
>at least in part due to inadequate receivers.

Exactly! And this is one of the major reasons that there are very few 
people trying to sell OTA TV equipment of the ATSC variety. And if 
the consumer never uses the ATSC tuner, how will they ever know if it 
is inadequate?

>And there are OTA users. And cable users who are
>being charged extra for HDTV.

And how do the broadcasters collect money from these OTA  HD users?

>
>The market is obvious. Even if you feel compelled
>to pretend otherwise.

I feel compelled to recognize reality.

  I am not saying that you and a handful of HD enthusiasts will not 
invest in ATSC receivers. There is an active group of audiophiles who 
believe that only tubes can produce REAL high quality audio. What I 
am saying is that there is no incentive for manufacturers to focus 
their efforts on cheap OTA STBs, as there is no mass market for these 
boxes.  They can make much more money focusing their efforts on 
alternatives to OTA broadcasting.

Regards
Craig
 
 
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