[opendtv] Re: How Many Strikes Until They're Out?
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 08:40:44 -0400
At 2:01 PM -0700 3/31/08, John Willkie wrote:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6546054>http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6546054
The
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6545858.html>National
Association of Broadcasters said Friday that the news that the
Federal Communications Commission would no longer test a
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6539682.html>Microsoft
device being used to determine the feasibility of sharing digital-TV
spectrum with unlicensed wireless devices was the third strike
against the devices, while defenders of the devices said it was all
part of the testing process.
"In baseball, it's three strikes and you're out," NAB spokesman
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6544336.html>Dennis
Wharton said Friday of the news that the Microsoft device had
"unexpectedly shut down," as the NAB said Microsoft had
characterized it. "How many strikes does Microsoft get? If they
can't get the device to work in the lab, how are they going to get
it to work in the real world?"
The NAB must be getting desperate.
The "three strikes and your out" analogy is absurd.
It is as if Microsoft is taking the fall for the NAB. I will admit
that there is nothing new here in terms of Microsoft's ability to
screw things up.
This is the same company that brought us the DTV team, which ALSO
really pissed of the NAB and the broadcasters. And then there were
all of the failed Microsoft ventures in cable, and the 8th wonder of
the world. Media Center PCs. Fortunately, most the world does not
look to Microsoft for leadership and reliability.
But the Microsoft devices are not causing interference problems, and
the other devices appear to be working. The noise coming from the NAB
is beginning to sound all too familiar. Fear mongering and scare
tactics are not what is needed here. What is needed is to put this
spectrum back to work, and the people who need this the most are the
broadcasters, who are doing their best to kill what has been a very
lucrative franchise. Broadcasters should be the ones developing
technologies for the white spaces so that they can add a back channel
to their dying one-way service.
I remarked to a colleague yesterday that this could be my last NAB -
my 30th in a row. The NAB conferences and exhibits are the PRIMARY
source of NAB revenues, yet only a tiny fraction of the show and it's
attendees have anything to do with broadcasting. MANY exhibitors are
growing tired of enriching the NAB coffers - does anyone remember
Comdex?
Regards
Craig
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts:
