[opendtv] Re: 20040601 Twang's Tuesday Tribune (Mark's Monday Memo)
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 10:11:27 -0400
> - Over-the-air cable-like multicasting service - The Emmis-led
> Broadcasters Initiative has reportedly more than doubled the
> number of
> participating stations to 350 in 30 groups since the number
> announced at
> the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in April:
> <http://www.tvweek.com/news/web052704.html#stations>
The only problem I have with this scheme is that, just like USDTV, it
appears to emulate the failed ONdigital/ITV model, as opposed to the
quite successful Freeview model. In the US, my gut tells me such a
dumbed down "cable" system would be less likely to flourish than it
was in Europe. Still, the nice aspect is that if it doesn't succeed,
it too could morph into a Freeview system.
Associated with this is that if such schemes are successful, one
would expect that a standard ATSC conditional access scheme built
into receivers would become important.
> - More than seven years after it laid down a timetable for the DTT
> transition, the FCC has finally decided to "seek comment on
> options for
> minimizing the disruption to consumers when the switch-over
> to digital
> broadcasting occurs. We are primarily concerned with those
> households
> that rely exclusively on over-the-air broadcasting for their
> television
> service, but we seek comment more broadly on minimizing the impact on
> all consumers. First, we seek comment on the identity of those
> consumers that rely on over-the-air television broadcasting
> and why they
> do not subscribe to a pay television service. Second, we
> seek comment
> on potential options for minimizing the impact on these and other
> consumers when broadcasters are operating solely in digital."
> Comments
> are due July 12 with replies due August 5:
> <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-041497A1.doc>
> That's all reasonable except that the FCC is examining only TV
> sets. Some consumers also "rely... on over-the-air broadcasting" for
> their VCRs, PVRs, DVD recorders, computer tuner cards, and TV-band
> radios. I use one of the last on most of the live shows on
> which I work.
This is strange indeed. From my point of view, FTA, assisted by a
recording device, provides more TV programs than I care to watch. The
question ought to be why would I want to subscribe to get even more
TV?
I would expect that DVD recorders, VCRs, and PVRs are covered under
the same provisions as TV sets. The odd thing being that some people
seem to associate such devices with STBs, rather than regarding them
as simply another "TV appliance" that should conform to the same
rules as TV sets do.
It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.
Bert
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