[opendtv] Re: Spectrum Utility
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:40:01 -0500
iclaustrum wrote:
> A reasonable compromise rule might be: 90% of the total
> (19.3 mbps) bits shall be in-the-clear, conveying a
> single 720p or 1080i formatted video program, with at
> least 16 mbps average dedicated to the video portion.
The FCC requires that each OTA broadcaster transmit at least one SD
quality program in the open. So that would be, say, average 4 to 5 Mb/s
of the 19.39 Mb/s total.
But of course, then these broadcasters have to worry about the
competition. During prime time, all the OTA networks transmit HDTV
almost exclusively. If they didn't, they would start to lose viewership,
especially now that bigger and sharper TVs are selling so well.
> Broadcasters should not be allowed to do with this
> precious gift as they please, on top of forcing cable
> and satellite MSO's to carry their signals (using arcane
> laws intended for newspapers), and force us mere commoners
> to pay additional monthly fees as we are now seeing with
> the Time-Warner et al spats.
Must-carry is one thing, retransmission consent is quite another, IMO. I
think you are misdirecting your ire. The "gift" the broadcasters are
given, OTA spectrum, can be used by anyone within range of a reasonably
well equipped OTA market. You should be able to bypass your umbillical
service provider and get all the broadcast network HDTV programming for
free. No one forces anyone to pay additional monthly fees.
If customers such as yourself demand that their umbillical service
provider carry all the TV channels that are also available OTA, then
these customers must value that extra service. If they do, they have to
be prepared to pay for it.
IMO, the very best thing would be for the umbillical services to drop
the OTA channels from their networks entirely. That would be a real boon
for the OTA network. And the best way for that to happen is for
disgruntled consumers to show evidence of reduced addiction.
Bert
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