[opendtv] Re: 20060117 Mark's (Almost) Monday Memo
- From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 23:16:04 -0500
Bob Miller wrote:
> But where there is stupidity, corruption and ignorance there is also
> opportunity. We could leapfrog all these others by considering a new
> modulation and codec now. 8-VSB would have saved us from an even worse
> folly. The UK is now considering how to switch to MPEG4 with over 10
> million MPEG2 receivers out there. At least we don't have that problem.
>
Gee, we could use a switch to the MPEG-4 AVC codec as an excuse to
abandon ATSC without anyone losing face. We could do it by allowing
broadcasters to optionally switch to "Mobile HD" or some such.
But I don't think that will be suggested until we are close to the
turn-off date.
- Tom
> Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
>
>
>>Craig Birkmaier wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>Given all of the things that Radio Shack sells, and
>>>the fact that many companies offer co-op ad
>>>incentives to promote their products, what makes you
>>>believe it would be profitable for RS to advertise DTV
>>>receivers versus other products with significantly
>>>greater sales potential?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>I don't think I was saying anything strange, Craig. I
>>thought it was drop dead obvious that a product that
>>customers don't know about won't sell.
>>
>>Radio Shack sells items that are advertized by others,
>>such as their DBS systems and cell phones. And they
>>sell items that have been on the market for a long time,
>>which require no advertizing (batteries, cables,
>>connectors, antennas). But this new specialty item could
>>easily be promoted on OTA TV, where the potential
>>customers are, either by Radio Shack or by Humax. Had
>>the box sold more rapidly, they might not have needed a
>>close-out sale, eh?
>>
>>What was the lesson from the Berlin DTT transition?
>>
>>Bert
>>
>>
>
> The lesson from Berlin was that if you have a modulation that works well
> everyone gets on board and pulls together and makes it happen. The
> public was educated about the transition. Those who could not afford a
> receiver were addressed. Manufacturers came forward with lots of choice
> in receivers. Prices were low and have fallen since. Content was
> plentiful and the only course offered to consumers was not to buy a new
> expensive TV set. When is the last time you saw an ad in the US for a
> digital receiver that you could use with your current analog TV set?
>
> And as to manufacturers being on board where is LG? Promising a $50
> converter, non HD, in 2009 if someone buys a boatload or maybe two
> boatloads for delivery on the Potomac. That $50 doesn't include a profit
> margin, allocation for returns, distribution or advertising cost. I
> wonder if it includes IP royalties for LG, a 5th gen chip or a power cord.
>
> I remember the disdain that such as Nokia, Pace and others had for 8-VSB
> back in 2000. They have stayed away from 8-VSB wisely while heavily
> involved in ventures like Crown Castle's DVB-H venture here and anything
> to do with DVB-T anywhere.
>
> The lesson from Berlin is we have the wrong modulation or we would be
> doing just as well as the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Japan etc.
>
> France, 1.3 million in first 9 months with only 50% coverage which would
> translate to 7.8 million in the US.
> http://www.digitag.org/DTTNews/article.php?Id=1131
>
> Japan, around 8.2 million receivers after 24 months of digital
> broadcasting which would translate to 18.6 million in the US. And Japan
> is far from full coverage today. In fact for much of this 24 months only
> three cities were covered.
>
> The UK at over 10 million sales of COFDM receivers with 75% coverage of
> the market. That would be 60 million in the US and 80 million if you
> adjusted for coverage. The US has only 110 million households so that
> would be doing pretty good, and without a mandate.
>
> Brazil, again rejects 8-VSB. Whew! What a relief, I was so worried. I
> guess the US could not buy this one. I wonder how long it will take the
> ATSC to delete Brazil from their site.
> http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=aMtiayu59_4M
>
> And I could go on with the lessons we should be learning Bert. Berlin is
> the least of it.
>
> But where there is stupidity, corruption and ignorance there is also
> opportunity. We could leapfrog all these others by considering a new
> modulation and codec now. 8-VSB would have saved us from an even worse
> folly. The UK is now considering how to switch to MPEG4 with over 10
> million MPEG2 receivers out there. At least we don't have that problem.
>
> Bob Miller
>
>
>
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