[opendtv] Re: Broadcasters Cut Out of Convergence
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:41:13 -0500
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> Hmmmmm...
>
> Perhaps the ball is starting to move.
>
> At least we are now seeing a major Broadcast
> publication tell it like it is.
>
> Broadcasters are "forcing" the content conglomerates
> to bypass them; as a result they are finally
> beginning to understand why they are watching from
> the sidelines...
Yes, that's certainly how the column comes across. The
reason is that music downloads to little mobile boxes
are selling well, so now everyone thinks that's the
only game in town. Whatever you do, it has to go to
cell phones.
As I suggested previously, to consumers, as opposed to
broadcasters, the fact that the SD/HDTV spectrum is
not going to be cannibalized by extra-robust streams
for little portable/mobile devices isn't necessarily
bad. As long as these services are carried by someone,
doesn't matter too much who it is or in what slice of
RF spectrum. I want my "Frontline" broadcasts in HD,
though.
I notice some small ironies. First off, the NAB says
broadcasters should feel "uncomfortable" with he focus
on small mobile devices. But isn't it the NAB as an
organization that should feel most uncomfortable? They
were perhaps the most influential voice in staying the
course, back in 2001/2002, were they not? It sure
wasn't, say, Sinclair. Why would the NAB think Sinclair
(as a broadcaster group) should feel "uncomfortable?"
Ticked off, perhaps.
The other oddity is that ABC is pointing fingers at
the affiliates, not at the RF medium, as being the
impediment to deploying new services over DTT. Because
they only own ten stations, and seem unable to get the
other 200+ affiliates to march to the same drummer. So
they use a separate highway that they can control
nationwide.
Besides which, ABC and Capitol Broadcasting agree that
they need to reach an installed base of devices, with
these new pay services, and that installed base
consists of PCs with broadband connections and
(presumably 3G) cell phones.
All very interesting finger pointing. Let's see if it
turns into action or just more incessant complaining.
Bert
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