[opendtv] Re: NAB: FCC's Wheeler Piles on Praise for Broadcasting | Broadcasting & Cable

  • From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 01:30:04 +0000

Craig Birkmaier wrote:

Bert is excited about the number of channels he can watch in the
Baltimore and Washington DC broadcast multiplexes.

Mostly, this is because in the early days of DTT, Craig used to insist that
ATSC couldn't carry enough channels. Obviously, incorrect, but did he ever
understand why he was so off the mark? Of course not. You show Craig the
numbers, and his eyes seem to glaze over. Even with a bunch of HD choices, the
number of channels available is more than adequate. And no, most ARE NOT
duplicates, though some are. That's because I don't receive all of the
Baltimore multiplexes, with antennas in fireplace. I receive "only" four
Baltimore multiplexes, from 46+ miles, with antennas in fireplace, ground level
(2, 11, 45, 54).

But it appears that there is a big future in broadcast
multiplexes via consolidation.

No other choice possible. As of now, each main network has its own multiplex,
with a number of subchannels which are the new networks created for DTT (like
Bounce, Movies! etc.). If the main networks give up their transmitter, they
either go dark, or they piggy-back on some other network.

More evidence that OTA broadcasting is an oligopoly...

There never was any evidence, and there isn't now. As I explained to Craig
years ago, each DTT multiplex operates very much like a mini-MVPD (only of
course, multiple of these compete in every location). So, within any single
multiplex, you get a small version of the sort of oligopoly you see with the
real MVPDs. But the other multiplexes that exist compete head to head,
throughout the market.

So, if Craig calls this mini-MVPD format proof of "oligopoly," one wonders how
long it will take for him to figure out that his "oligopoly" notion is purely
an artifact of MVPD walled gardens he's so devoted to?

As if that isn't proof enough, Craig should read the NYT article Monty posted.
The part where HBO needs to cajole middlemen, in order to compete.

Bert



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