[opendtv] Re: Mobile DTV test
- From: Eory Frank-p22212 <Frank.Eory@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 11:54:38 -0700
Bob Miller wrote:
> Now the CEA
> doesn't even
> want to support mandatory 8-VSB receivers because they perceive the
> opposite now, 8-VSB receivers in HDTV sets will actually IMPEDE sales.
>
Whether they want to or not, most if not all of their member companies have
said they will meet the FCC deadlines.
> That is the most ironic part of the transition. The CEA that first
> adamantly and ignorantly fought for 8-VSB because they
> perceived that it
> would mean strong sales and now they believe the opposite.
>
Regardless of what CEA and its members believe, the important thing is what do
the retailers believe? If they believe that integraded HDTV sets that cost
several hundred $ more than the equivalent HDTV display will result in
increased sales, they should already be placing the orders for those integrated
HDTV sets with screen sizes > 36". July 1 isn't very far off. If they believe
that they will continue to sell far fewer integrated HDTV sets -- as has been
their history since day one of the DTV transition -- then they will continue to
order those things that consumers actually buy.
The mandate will fail simply because consumers will not be forced to spend
substantial amounts of money on something they perceive has little value.
> If COFDM had been taken seriously back in 1995 on or even if
> it had been
> allowed in 2000 or January 2001 we would be a lot farther
> along in the
> DTV transition in the US and much farther along with HDTV in
> the US and
> worldwide.
Nonsense. Modulation has nothing to do with the problem here. A robust
modulation scheme is a necessary but not sufficient condition for OTA DTV
success. Even with COFDM, the difference in demand for integrated HDTV sets vs.
HDTV monitors would be no different than it is with 8-VSB.
When the cost of the integrated receiver/decoder is negligible, U.S. consumers
will accept them (and not use them) without a second thought -- just as they
accept the V-chip mandate without a second thought. Most are unaware of the
V-chip, never use it, and thankfully, didn't pay extra for it.
You can't solve the content issue -- a few OTA offerings per market vs. the
zillion channel universe of cable & satellite -- simply by changing to a more
robust transmission system.
-- Frank Eory
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