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

Craig Birkmaier wrote:
  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.
 >

Maybe so, though our opinions are possibly colored by the limitations of 
existing boxes.

But if inexpensive 5th gen chips worked and were available, and if 
sufficient TV guide data were freely available OTA, then I would predict 
you could make and sell OTA PVR's today at a price where virtually 
EVERYBODY would soon want one.  That sort of plug-n-play VCR replacement 
combined with the better picture (even on current SD displays) would be 
a compelling argument.

But it would all have to work first.

- Tom


> 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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