[opendtv] Re: Harris, NAB: PSIP Deadline Impossible
- From: "Dale Kelly" <dalekelly@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:47:10 -0700
Thanks John, your past news letters have addressed this and, for most
issues, you're pretty much spot on, IMO.
I was significantly involved in the development of modern, but pre DTV,
automation systems with traffic and other system interfaces and have
opinions about venders, etc, which I will share later, once I've rechecked
my recollections.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Willkie
> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 4:40 PM
> To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [opendtv] Re: Harris, NAB: PSIP Deadline Impossible
>
> If someone wants to meet the deadline, I would suggest they start
> working with their automation system and PSIP vendor NOW. It can
> be done, but it would be best to get the bugs out of real-time
> updates outside of the May sweeps. Thankfully, the May sweeps
> end the week before the deadline. I for one, see two types of
> customers; those interested in meeting the deadline, and those
> interested in having real PSIP working after the deadline.
>
> As a practical matter, as I pointed out on my PSIP list late last
> year, these new rules will require EVERY TV STATION IN THE US TO
> HAVE AN AUTOMATION SYSTEM. Or, they get fined when their sports
> programming overruns, or they or their network make last-minute changes.
>
> Harris demonstrated the ADC automation system at last year's NAB.
> Was it vaporware then? They used a Harris-branded PSIP+
> generator that was PMCP compliant but which was not available to
> customers. In the meantime, despite having previously said that
> they would not market a PMCP-compliant PSIP generator, Triveni
> Digital has PMCP support in the latest rev of their PSIP
> software. Triveni's system is operational, but ADC's isn't?
>
> Didn't they know that broadcasters would need to make last-minute
> changes in programs?
>
> There is stuff I would like to say, but I cannot. There is a
> mutual NDA between Harris and myself. I can say that Harris and
> Triveni Digital have parted ways, and that means costs will go up
> for users if they wish to continue to use "less defective than
> previous" Triveni units.
>
> I can say that I am actively pitching my system to network folk,
> including Harris customers, and I am not getting responses to my
> emails. I've been wondering why that is.
>
> If this comes down to an FCC proceeding - I doubt it, since any
> proceeding at this point would automatically delay things - I
> will oppose it. I can meet the deadline, but the requirement to
> label downconverted programming will be challenging to implement
> in the real world. It's not unlike the issue presented by Martin
> Holmes in his recent lapse of lurkerdom - the aspect ratio and
> size of the video needs to be bound to the item in the traffic log.
>
> Also, I need to point out something. The text of the proceeding
> was released on December 31. Jay Adrick participated in the
> proceeding for Harris. If this was a big issue, just why are we
> only hearing of it more than 60 days later? I'd say that the
> deadline might be extended, but only for a few weeks.
> Broadcasters have five months from the date the text was released.
>
> I think the issue might actually be the sales cycle. Selling the
> needed systems at NAB and installing them within 6 weeks, that
> will be an issue. It's an issue that should have been addressed
> in the proceeding, not a month after the text was published in
> the Federal Register.
>
> We need also to remember that the ATSC and NAB was strongly
> urging the FCC to adopt an EARLIER deadline than the last day of
> May; they wanted the rules to be in force by March 1, 2007. So,
> on second thought, this has about 0% chance of succeeding; the
> FCC was itself delayed in opening this proceeding. Nobody wants
> to use that argument in this context, I suspect; they're unlikely
> to extend it.
>
> Pay Triveni Digital $9,000 (plus $2,700 per year software
> assurance) to 'upgrade' former units, or buy something better, or
> face FCC fines. I just love free markets!
>
> I'm sorry to hear that one of Harris's automation systems won't
> be able to handle PMCP by May 30, 2007. There have been such
> systems offered by other vendors for more than 3 years. Let me
> phrase this carefully; how many other of the Harris units that
> offer automation or traffic systems won't be able to meet the deadline?
>
> John Willkie, wondering how many people he can offend in a single post.
>
> _____________________________________________
> De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En nombre de Dale Kelly
> Enviado el: Friday, March 07, 2008 2:25 PM
> Para: OPENDTV
> Asunto: [opendtv] Harris, NAB: PSIP Deadline Impossible
>
> John W., what's your take on this?
>
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