[opendtv] Re: Fw: Re: Frames Per Second of 720P
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:57:26 -0400
Dan Grimes wrote:
> What I am trying to get at is the fact that the broadcasting
> business has become overly inflated and complicated,
> requiring a lot more money and resources than is really
> necessary to provide the obligation (public service) in
> exchange for the spectrum.
>
> While I can appreciate that the entire OTA system (at least
> old model) may no longer be viable business-wise for the
> broadcaster, and I can appreciate the need for new revenues,
> it is still important to realize that the spectrum is given
> to them for a purpose and that purpose must be fulfilled to
> the expectations of those of us that still use it. If the
> broadcasters cannot do this and stay in business, then they
> need to get out of broadcasting and make their money another
> way.
>
> I think it is unfair for a broadcasting corporation to be
> "given" spectrum with an obligation, then use the spectrum
> to make a bunch of money, not fulfill the obligation
> (consumer's expectation of the obligation), and then compete
> with corporations that did have to buy spectrum in order to
> make money.
I have a somewhat different take on this.
The Congress, and the FCC, still deem it important to support FOTA radio
and TV in this country. I suppose it's important to do what you can to
have an informed electorate.
The People, you and me, have voted in large numbers for abundant choice,
when it comes to sources of entertainment. That's why The People flock
to subscription media.
The broadcasters seem happy to concentrate their efforts on getting
carriage on these subscription media. After all, that's where The People
went.
And to make matters worse, the 800 Mhz spectrum was taken away from
broadcasters to assign to cell phones, and the 700 MHz spectrum is now
being taken away, to assign similarly to cell services. Considering how
much The People appreciate lots of choice, this reassigning of TV
frequencies can only make it more difficult for FOTA TV to remain
viable.
Question: is anyone interested in retaining FOTA radio and TV, or not?
The conglomerates would have NO PROBLEM selling just to the MVPDs, if
that's what we prefer. But if FOTA service is important to anyone, then
the FOTA broadcasters have to be allowed to sell what The People want.
To the extent they still can.
So what do The People want? The few available OTA channels dedicated to
public affairs programming? Is that why they all went to MVPDs?
Broadcasters seem willing to give FOTA M/H service a shot, while not
seriously degrading their other DTT. I say, they should give that a try.
Or soon, they'll be gone, and we'll all be beholden to the MVPDs 100
percent.
Bert
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