I have my tongue firmly planted between my teeth, and can not talk at this time. I saw/read this article right after reading my friend Steve's post. Ah...what could have been...
And to Bob Miller I say...don't blame the Bush administration for this one, it was Clinton and his little band of hooligans (starting with HIS FCC Chairman Kennard that not only ignored us, but flaunted that fact!) who had to have a way to balance the budget at the expense of Broadcasting. Kennard left many an impression when he left in January of 2001 (few good), the decision to stick with 'what you have' cast in stone...
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/2001/nrmm0102.html> Among other things...(extracted) The Commission: * Affirmed the 8-VSB modulation system of the DTV transmission standard, concluding that there is no reason to revisit its decision denying a request to allow use of an alternative DTV modulation standard. * ... * Denied requests to set performance standards for digital receivers, expressing concern that the effect of setting such standards at this point would be to stifle innovation and limit performance to current capabilities. The Commission said it would continue to monitor receiver issues; * ... On 9/16/2008 3:09 PM, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
Mark A. Aitken posted: http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/09/16/daily.3/ [ ... ] "Doesn't matter. The transition is done enough. And this is great news. Because digital TV is ready for the launch party when stations vigorously promote its features and urge their communities to figure it out and tune it in." I take it this is a publication for broadcasters. From the perspective of this non-broacaster viewer, however, the failure has been that this new medium should have been "marketed vigorously" starting years ago. Let's say, at least once decent receivers started appearing on the market, and I'd even include the Accurian/Digital Stream STB among these. Although built-in receivers by that time were even better than the Accurian. Even if broadcasters were wary of earlier receivers and all the complaints they might get. So, from sometime in 2003 anyway, the vigorous marketing should have begun. At least some stations in most markets had already gone digital and HD. As I see it, this "vigorous marketing" is not likely to occur at all, but I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised. "Messaging tonnage has been huge (thanks in part to the FCC DTV announcement mandate) and awareness of the date is exceptionally high. "But awareness of what? This is from the FCC's DTV.gov home page: 'On February 17, 2009, all full-power broadcast stations in the Unites States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital.'" [ ... ] "What do typical TV viewers take away? Can you blame anyone who thinks that digital TV is not here now, and that it starts in February?" Yup, the wording is misleading, although technically correct. Then again, why would any business ever let the Federal Govt do their marketing for them? It makes no sense. I take this more as an exasperated fed govt taking this function upon itself, when it shouldn't have had to. The transition started in 1998, 10 years ago. Bert----------------------------------------------------------------------You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.
-- <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Regards, Mark A. Aitken Director, Advanced Technology =================================== Sinclair Broadcast Group 10706 Beaver Dam Road Hunt Valley, MD 21030 =================================== Business TEL: (410) 568-1535 Business MOBILE: (443) 677-4425 Business FAX: (410) 568-1580 E-mail: maitken@xxxxxxxxxx www.sbgi.net =================================== "The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it." ~ ~ ~ ~ Theodore Roosevelt ~ ~ ~ ~ =================================== "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." ~ ~ ~ ~ Dwight Eisenhower ~ ~ ~ ~ =================================== "Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Robert Half ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
