[opendtv] Re: News: TITANTV PARTNERS WITH SINCLAIR ON PSIP
- From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:19:17 -0800
Good news for Sinclair's pioneering efforts to provide always-accurate PSIP;
they're ahead of the networks on that, which is a shame. (This ACTUAL
feature isn't mentioned in the press release; apparently TitanTV doesn't
actually understand what Sinclair is using them for.)
However, there is much disinformation in this flackery.
"TitanTV developed the PSIP data service component of MediaStar to support
FCC-mandated PSIP requirements."
My understanding is that the data service component of MediaStar was
developed before the FCC made PSIP mandatory.
" From a technical perspective, PSIP identifies both the DTV channel
and the associated NTSC (analog) channel and enables DTV receivers to
associate the two. "
This contains SEVERAL misstatements. First, there is no requirement to
provide EPG data for analog stations associated with digital stations.
Second, the ONLY way conceivably -- per ATSC A/65 -- to associate an analog
channel with a digital one is to transmit the analog tsid in PSIP AND in the
XDS data within the analog caption stream on the analog station. I haven't
yet to hear of a TV set that ACTUALLY does this, but perhaps they exist
somewhere; the sets I am familiar with just DROP analog program listings;
sending the analog listings isn't worth the trouble.
Notice how they mentioned the "contract management" features, which
apparently Sinclair doesn't use.
" The FCC mandated the use of PSIP in 2001 and a compliance deadline
was set for February 2005."
There was no mandatory PSIP requirement in the rules in 2001; PSIP was
mandated in 1999, but before 2001, the FCC removed the requirement, which
they reinstated effective Feb 2005. So, not a pure lie: two words were
accurate.
TitanTV sells PMCP-compliant program listings, for $50 a month, which they
license from TV Guide. Beyond that, they are a venture-capital backed
company desperately hunting for a market.
John Willkie
-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de Craig Birkmaier
Enviado el: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 9:33 AM
Para: OpenDTV Mail List
Asunto: [opendtv] News: TITANTV PARTNERS WITH SINCLAIR ON PSIP
http://tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/02/19/daily.18/
TITANTV PARTNERS WITH SINCLAIR ON PSIP
TVNEWSDAY, FEB. 19, 7:13 PM ET
TitanTV will supply Sinclair's 58 stations with its MediaStar
software to manage their PSIP requirements.
By Staff
TitanTV, a supplier of broadcast technologies and electronic
programming guide, will supply Sinclair Broadcasting Group its
MediaStar software to manage Sinclair's program and system
information protocol (PSIP) requirements throughout its stations.
MediaStar lets station managers oversee contracts and programming
schedules online and is also used by Raycom Media, Gannett, Univision
and Barrington Broadcasting.
TitanTV developed the PSIP data service component of MediaStar to
support FCC-mandated PSIP requirements. Essentially, PSIP
requirements ensure that digital television viewers are properly
informed regarding channels and broadcasts available to them.
From a technical perspective, PSIP identifies both the DTV channel
and the associated NTSC (analog) channel and enables DTV receivers to
associate the two. In addition, PSIP tells the receiver whether
multiple program channels are being broadcast and how to find them.
Furthermore, it identifies whether the programs are closed captioned
and conveys available V-chip information among other things.
By implementing MediaStar, Sinclair can set up and distribute
schedule information to its station personnel and into their PSIP
generation equipment. MediaStar also includes a contract management
feature to ensure stations are scheduling programs based on the terms
set forth by the distributor. MediaStar will be utilized by all of
Sinclair's 58 television stations, which reach approximately 22
percent of U.S. television households and include Fox, ABC, MNT, CW,
CBS, and NBC affiliates.
The FCC mandated the use of PSIP in 2001 and a compliance deadline
was set for February 2005. TitanTV created MediaStar four years ago
and it now serves 505 PSIP clients. TitanTV PSIP data service is
compatible with all PSIP hardware manufacturers in the market today.
In addition, TitanTV PSIP data service is compatible with the ATSC
standard for programming metadata communication protocol PMCP.
In addition to their PSIP clients, TitanTV services over 1,000 local
television affiliates with its electronic programming
guide. Recently, TitanTV launched an Internet syndication model that
will provide original programming and popular syndicated television
shows, along with a media player to support them, to local affiliate
Web sites.
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