Technology360

Martin Preparing To Revisit Fight Over Carriage Of Digital TV Signals

David Hatch has a story about who's supporting and who's opposing FCC chairman Kevin Martin's plan to move forward with digital must carry. Link:  National Journal.  --Dennis

Mark Schubin digital television memo, 6/9/06

Mark Schubin's memo on digital television is back (we missed you), this one labeled "Free Friday Fragments."  This one has extensive notes from the NAB show back in mid-April.  One tidbit:

... At the PBS Technology Conference, it was noted that KQED is simultaneously carrying HD and three SD on a single DTT channel. ...

  Link:  OpenDTV at FreeLists.  --Dennis

Net neutrality fails, telecom legislation passes House

Drew Clark reports:

The House passed the telecommunications legislation of Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, just past 10 p.m. on Thursday. The final vote tally on the bill was 321-101. Among Republicans, 215 supported it, with only 8 opposed. A majority of Democrats, 108 versus 92, voted for passage. The one independent voted no. Earlier in the evening, an amendment seeking to strengthen the Barton bill's "network neutrality" provisions failed 269-152, on an amendment offered by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. ...

Link:  DrewClark.com.  The article also contains a post-vote interview with Chairman Barton during which he repeats his opposition to digital must carry.

Updated 6/10/2006:
Also see Network neutrality killed again, but cable reform bill lives on.  Link:  Ars Technica.  --Dennis

Could Giving Voters On-Demand Content Get Them Interested?

Peter Grant writes:

Cable subscribers increasingly are using so-called on-demand technology to watch programs like "The Sopranos" or old movies whenever they want. But the technology also has great potential as a tool for making our democratic system work better.  ¶  Consider what was available on demand on Time Warner's cable system in Lincoln, Neb., just before that state's primary election earlier this month. Voters were able to watch the debates between candidates running for the state legislature, for treasurer and for secretary of state. While not the most scintillating television, voters who took their responsibility seriously were able to be informed, free of charge, before heading to the ballot box. ...

Link:  Wall Street Journal.

Back to the Future... for Broadcast TV

Robert Young writes:

... Five years from now, the TV market will no longer be segmented solely by major broadcast network vs. cable network viewership. Instead, the market will be further subdivided among viewers of linear broadcast programming vs. that of non-linear on-demand formats. Moreover, the on-demand segment will account for a steadily increasing share of total viewership. On the flip side, it’s equally important to note that the segment with traditional linear/broadcast programming (while declining) will continue to remain alive with its own significant share for quite some time. That said, within this linear/broadcast segment there will be a mini-disruption in the near term. To be specific, it is likely that most of the hundreds of channels we get today via our cable & satellite subscriptions will disappear and there will be only 10 to 20 “broadcast channels” left standing. Here’s why…

Link:  unmediated.  Interesting scenario.  --Dennis

To broadcasters, cablers: Partner up or perish

Diane Mermigas writes:

Radical notions are just what a transforming media industry has come to expect from Tom Wolzien. One such is cable operators and broadcasters cooperating rather than competing to generate greater digital fortunes and keep the Internet from sucking the lifeblood out of advertising-supported television.  ¶  The veteran Wall Street analyst and former NBC News executive, now a private consultant, recently demonstrated that he remains a voice of reason in the media wilderness. ...¶... In short, his message to both broadcasters and cable operators is: Use what you have in a cooperative basis or risk losing it to the Internet. ...

Link:  Hollywood Reporter.

Cable must draw guns for new-media battles

Diane Mermigas writes:

The cable industry is determined not to be blindsided again by unexpected competition, though that might not be possible given the barrage of new digital developments at every turn.  ¶  Last year, the rapid adoption of wireless portable devices outside the home proved a surprising and potent new competitive force just as cable operators were beginning to monetize their $80 billion digital rebuild.  ¶  This year, the explosion of digital video downloads from the Internet as an effective cable bypass is a game-changing threat. The latest example is the Walt Disney Co.'s plan to provide ad-supported hit series on its branded Web sites for free the day after their initial broadcast. ...

Link:  Hollywood Reporter.

FCC Chairman Willing To Revisit 'Must Carry' Ruling

Drew Clark writes:

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin expressed a willingness to reconsider and reverse an agency decision last year that was a key setback for broadcasters in the transition to digital television. He spoke at the National Association of Broadcasters convention here.  ¶  Martin was referring to a February 2005 decision to reject broadcasters' request that cable operators carry all digital multicasting programs transmitted over the air. ...

Link:  National Journal.

Dear FCC -Be careful what you ask for

Mark Cuban writes:  "You want a la carte, you got a la carte.  ¶  It's called the internet. Every single major cable and telephone company offers high speed access to the internet and they allow you to pick and choose the content you want to view.  ¶  The internet is the definition of ala carte program. Every type of programming imaginable. All there for you to find and choose what you want, when you want it.  Some witha price tag. Most for free.  ¶  Open up your favorite search engine and put in the name of the program you want. Or put in the type of programming you want. It's your Electronic Programming Guide. If it's there and available you can find it. ..."  Link:  Blog Maverick.

For a related commentary, see Richard Siklos', Why Can't I Have Just the Cable Channels I Want?: "... The great paradox of this debate is that it comes as the number of media options is exploding and the way they are being priced is all over the map. The much-maligned bundle will most probably prevail as the most popular business model for media, although it, too, is likely going to need an extreme makeover. ..."  Link:  New York Times.  --Dennis

IPTV Is Dead (Part 27)

Martin Geddes writes:  "... In future you’ll only want to watch stuff that’s gained a strong reputation for quality. But you won’t know it’s a quality offering until plenty of people have watched it and the data’s been passed through the collaborative filters. Furthermore, anything that isn’t live TV can be sent to your DRM’d video store awaiting the unlock key to be sent at the anointed viewing time.  ¶  Only a very small number of shows will have a reputation that precedes them. ..."  Link:  Telepocalypse.