[opendtv] Re: People DO watch LPTV
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 08:54:51 -0400
At 9:55 AM -0700 3/31/08, John Willkie wrote:
Dan;
I'm not ignorant of LPTVs, and Las Vegas is a bit of an outlyer,
with a large number of LPTVs, and last time I checked al
Spanish-language stations in Las Vegas were LPTVs.
But, it's permissible for LPTVs to flash-cut to digital, and the FCC
opened a window over a year ago to provide LPTVs - where possible
technically - with a temporary companion channel. Even in RF-cramped
San Diego, many LPTVs were able to find digital companion channels,
even stations less than a dozen miles from the border - Las Vegas
has no Mexican or Canadian coordination issues.
They can convert at any time, and the lack of analog pass-through in
early cheese boxes is an additional incentive.
Once again, most people get their tv via cable or satellite; this
affects only a slice of the audience. Small, but measurable
audience.
Once again John is missing the big picture. There was no excuse for
screwing up the DTV education program and the NTIA set-top box
program. It would have been both cheap and easy to integrate analog
tuners in the NTIA boxes. By so doing these boxes would provide easy
access to ALL services until the last analog transmitter is turned
off. But we let bureaucrats try their hand at helping broadcasters
with this transition. From start to finish the whole DTV transition
has been a case study in what can go wrong when you let politicians,
bureaucrats and special interests develop a "product."
And remember, this all started because the NAB was upset that the FCC
was trying to let someone use the White Spaces...
Talk about three strikes...
Strike 1 - a standard that perpetuates poor spectral efficiency while
failing to address real market needs - robust indoor reception with
simple antennas. mobility, and competition with, rather than reliance
on multi-channel services to reach consumers.
Strike 2 - The rigged FCC VSB versus COFDM tests.
Strike 3 - The botched handling of the convertor box program.
Regards
Craig
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