[opendtv] Re: News: Reps. Barton, Stearns Offer Alternative DTV Bill

  • From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:27:24 -0500

Craig Birkmaier wrote:

> You cannot even count.
>
> Two ABC, Two CBS, Two Fox, Two PBS, Two CW, and countless
> duplications among all of the sub-channels for which you do
> not list the content delivered.

Craig, I listed the channels so, instead if repeating your years-old
mantra, you can see reality. But that didn't seem to work. Now, I will
list them again, keeping out all the Baltimore stations. Also, what you
say is "two PBS" are two different program lineups. The Howard U station
transmits different programs from WETA.

4-1 Wash NBC HD
4-2
4-3
5-1 Wash Fox HD
7-1 Wash ABC HD
7-2
7-3
9-1 Wash CBS HD
9-2
14-1 Wash Univision HD
20-1 Wash MNT HD
26-1 Wash PBS HD
26-2
26-3
26-4
30-1 Wash Independent
30-2
30-3
30-4
30-5
32-1 Wash Howard U PBS
50-1 Wash CW HD
66-1 Wash PAX
66-2
66-3
66-4

(Some of those Wash stations are actually licensed in Northern VA, but
that makes no difference.)

New total, without any Baltimore stations: 26, of which right now 8 are
HD.

Add just *one* SD multitast to all stations that transmit no multicast
channel, and you arrive at 31. Add two multicasts to those stations, for
three total streams, and you get 36 total. Now do you get it? It's
hardly a stretch to create 36 program streams, at least 10 of which
could be HD.

And that's with analog STILL in place.

Compare that capacity to any Freeview system anywhere.

> Remember, the vast majority of the broadcast day is filed with
> off network and other syndicated programming.

Cable systems sell subscriptions because people love bulk. I doubt the
majority of cable channels are big money makers. OTA could be made more
attractive without having to offer quite the huge lineup of MVPDs.
Somehow, I don't find it credible that there aren't any low-cost program
streams that could be used here. Somehow, Europeans and Australians can
make this successful, without charging subscription fees for OTA
Freeview.

And you keep coming back with vague generalities about the
infrastructure:

> The topology of the transmission networks in the UK and most of
> the rest of Europe ARE substantially different than the high
> powered big sticks we use here

Craig, concentrate: They use low-powered big sticks. Take the US
topology, reduce the power of each big stick, plant many more big
sticks, using the same rules adjusted for less range, and you get the
European topology. You are simply not credible when you try to buff your
way into these arguments of coverage.

Bert
 
 
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