[opendtv] Re: 20060117 Mark's (Almost) Monday Memo
- From: Bob Miller <bob@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 02:23:31 -0500
Not necessarily so. As broadcasters start to get antsy about the markets
they are missing the MPEG4 card might be played sooner for reasons
related to wanting in on this action instead of later to further delay
the transition IMO. But you are right and I have suggested it many
times, MPEG4 should be the lead card now.
The UK is starting to talk about the MPEG4 problem now. They have
leaders there sort of. Here things don't happen until the Corporations
set down with their lobbyist and Congressional LA's and decide what they
want. And then they inform their mouthpieces the actual Congressional
critters. A lot of scurrying going on down there these days. Maybe a
good time to tell the public about the games that are being played with
their spectrum.
Bob Miller
Tom Barry wrote:
>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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