Re: The End of Free OTA
- From: "Tantalust" <Tantalust@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:25:14 GMT
"Bob Miller" <bob@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8o2qi.11880$Od7.3796@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alan wrote:
In article <hvOpi.10846$tj6.1223@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> BobMPEG2 works fine. The problem is that newer compression codecs can handle
Miller <bob@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:
I am not preaching doom. The future will be better. I am only pointing
out that the present is not as good as it could be or should be
pertaining to OTA DTV on channels 2-51 in the US.
If we change the codec and modulation then things will be a lot better
right away.
Nonsense. If we changed the codec and modulation tomorrow, all digital
television sets and settop receivers would quit working.
It does not sound like a step forward to me.
If we don't then there will be some period of time before the free OTA
DTV we have now is replaced with new offerings by those who will buy the
spectrum at future auctions and use it with up to date codecs and
modulation and maybe even free OTA.
First you spent years complaining about 8VSB modulation. Now,
you have added complaining about MPEG2.
Both are working quite well.
Alan
twice the content and as they mature will be able to handle four times the
content of MPEG2.
This was known at the time MPEG2 was chosen. MPEG2 was chosen to cement in
the IP royalty rights of players with lobbyist and lots of money.
This is not true of OTA's competition, cable and satellite, where they can
and are changing to better codecs to deliver more content in the same
infrastructure.
The decision to use MPEG2 and allow no upgrade path to already known and
far better codecs is just another example of the consumer getting screwed.
This protects cable and satellite from competition and allows the
compromised, conflicted broadcasters to get paid for their free OTA
content on cable and satellite.
The conflict of interest that broadcasters have with must carry now that
they have decided to cash in on cable and satellite suggest that they
should either have their spectrum or must carry rights taken away.
And they will, one or the other. If it is must carry then you will hear
howls of pain about modulation and codec. If it is spectrum then new
owners will use better codecs and modulation.
Since MPEG2 barely allows the broadcast of 1080i and many including myself
will suggest cannot carry 1080i and cannot carry 1080-60P for sure, it
would be nice if we had and upgrade path to better codecs.
To suggest that it makes sense to restrict the upgrade path to better
codecs to pay off political corrupt Congresscritters and the payees
borders on insane.
Sort of like the Patty Hearst kidnap syndrome where captives identify with
their oppressors. We in the US now find all kinds of excuses to explain
why we let these guys pick our pockets because we are their captives.
The DTV spectrum, channels 2-51, are devalued both to broadcasters and the
public at the present by 50% and later by 75% by the continued use of
MPEG2.
Doesn't matter to broadcasters because they have bought into the cable and
satellite cash flow scheme and only lose money every time someone uses
OTA.
Does matter to the public because they are being deprived of a competitor
to cable and satellite, both free OTA and pay OTA. The public is deprived
of better delivered HD content and more content.
If MPEG4 or better codecs were used along with a decent modulation we
would see a rebirth of competition for cable and satellite like we see in
many other countries.
I have advocated for using a better codec than MPEG2 since 1999. It is not
something new. It has always been both modulation and codec.
Bob Miller
Here's a nice, unchallenging, easy-to-read website that explains some of our
DTV system's history.
Thought you might like to learn (a little).
Did you know you can use your mouse to "turn on" the little blue blocks near
the top of the screen?* You can learn _even more_ about our DTV standard
that way! Some fun!
http://www.atsc.org/history.html
*Push down (v) on the little square on the upper left area of your mouse.
.
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