[opendtv] Re: Spectrum is too valuable

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <brewmastercraig@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2015 08:13:12 -0500

On Nov 10, 2015, at 10:09 PM, Manfredi, Albert E
<albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

You are lost, Craig. We are talking about repurposing cable bandwidth from
broadcast streams to 2-way IP service. The codec used for the old broadcast
streams becomes irrelevant. This is why you think I change the subject.
Because you are lost. When using IP, you assume use of H.264, to estimate how
many TV programs you can stream, NOT H.262. Forget about H.262, in this
discussion.

Enjoy talking to yourself?

Despite the fact you changed the subject I indulged you. I made the numbers
generic...

Just the bits sir.

The fact remains, you cannot do what you suggest, UNLESS, you assume a
significant portion of the audience is willing, as you are, to take a step
backwards in delivered video quality.

That is not the way this transition is working. Netflix and others are now
starting to support UHDTV and h.265. If you are going to talk about the future,
please do not tell us we need to take a step backwards to facilitate a rapid
transition that nobody is asking for.

The marketplace is responding at a pace that will enable the transition AND
IMPROVE the delivered product. Even back in 2005 when I started downloading
movies and TV shows from iTunes, the remarkable thing was how high the quality
was.

They took the time to encode programs properly and gave them enough bits to
maintain that quality throughout. We are just now reaching that level of
quality with streaming video, thanks primarily to much faster broadband.

Looks like *exactly* what I said. HD at 5 Mb/s. (Or 1080p at 8 Mb/s, if 720p
is not enough for you.) For someone who insisted for years and years that we
only ever needed 480p, I have no idea why you're going on like this, Craig.

And once again you blow right by the facts, citing the minimal numbers rather
than the HQ - that stands for High Quality Bert.

I never said 480 would be the end game. I said it was a useful step on the way
to HD. Just like most of the rest of the world focused on digital component SD,
rather than rushing into HD. Turned out that 1080i was the mistake we said it
would be. 720p has proven to be the best HD format to date.

Ironically, 360P or 480p is what you are limited to today with your PC/TV
setup. I guess I must have been right...

But this is just more banalities, Craig. The number is dropping, as these
homes understand and adopt the new technologies.

Not very much. But it may drop dramatically next year when real alternatives
become available via the Internet. For now it is mostly additive - homes adding
Netflix to their MVPD service.

You used to say the same thing about low def TV, as if HDTV was only ever
going to be for the top 1%. Enough already. Obviously, the old way of doing
things takes some time to change over. Already now, or actually months ago,
how many US TV households still watch TV by appointment, Craig?

47% live, and at least another 25% via DVR time shifting.

Regards
Craig

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