Updating ATSC Standard Could Put an End to Manual Channel Rescans

[osu1991]

Updating ATSC Standard Could Put an End to Manual Channel Rescans

Association touts automated software updates via ATSC 3.0 or even 1.0

www.tvtechnology.com

ATSC Chair and NAB Senior Vice President of Technology Lynn Claudy says that, with the deployment of ATSC 3.0 coinciding with the end of the channel repack, updating the 3.0 standard to allow for automated rescan updates could bring an end to this manual and tedious process.

 

[PasTypique]

Stopping the basic giveaway of the airwaves once intended for the public to the mobile carriers would be another. I remember when channels went up to 83 and there was a channel 78 in Windsor, Ontario. Now they end at 36 and I'm sure that will be lowered even further in the coming years.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Now they end at 36 and I'm sure that will be lowered even further in the coming years.

I believe it's been mentioned here previously by credible sources that the cellular carriers aren't interested in the lower bandwidth.

 

[N5XZS]

I rather have my total control of my TV for DXing and other things...

 

[ancient]

I rather have my total control of my TV for DXing and other things...

This was the first thing I thought about when I read that. Many people live in places where they can receive TV stations from multiple markets but I'm sure the broadcasters would love it if they could restrict you to only watching the stations for "your" DMA, no matter how crappy those stations are. Or if you lived near an international border, to keep you from watching channels in the adjacent country (there are places in the USA where you only have a good selection of TV if you watch Canadian channels, and vise versa). If this is something that is optional and still allows you to do a manual scan for stations, that's fine, but if it's a case of "we well tell you which channels you can watch based on your street address" then they can shove that where the sun don't shine!

 

[Ypsiguy]

Stopping the basic giveaway of the airwaves once intended for the public to the mobile carriers would be another. I remember when channels went up to 83 and there was a channel 78 in Windsor, Ontario. Now they end at 36 and I'm sure that will be lowered even further in the coming years.

What will kill the idea of serving the public is the conditional access scheme built into ATSC 3.0

That will be the end of free OTA television.

 

[Corrado]

I can imagine the metal recycling bin at the town building filled with antennas the day free OTA TV ends.

 

[mwdxer1]

This was the first thing I thought about when I read that. Many people live in places where they can receive TV stations from multiple markets but I'm sure the broadcasters would love it if they could restrict you to only watching the stations for "your" DMA, no matter how crappy those stations are. Or if you lived near an international border, to keep you from watching channels in the adjacent country (there are places in the USA where you only have a good selection of TV if you watch Canadian channels, and vise versa). If this is something that is optional and still allows you to do a manual scan for stations, that's fine, but if it's a case of "we well tell you which channels you can watch based on your street address" then they can shove that where the sun don't shine!

Within 5 years or more, streaming will be the norm anyway. If OTA TV becomes too restrictive, many will shy away from it. For me living in a rural area will not see 3.0 for probably at least 5 years at a minimum. Some think that stations may sell a lot more programming via 3.0. How much of it remains free, is anyone's guess. One thing is certain, we have a lot more choices than we once did.

 

[mwdxer1]

I can imagine the metal recycling bin at the town building filled with antennas the day free OTA TV ends.

That is one thing I am a bit concerned with. Look how much the TV stations are charging cable and satellite companies to carry them. The amount they charge has gone through the ceiling. If OTA can make more money, the big corp's will go for it. What we will be left with is anyone's guess.

 

[mwdxer1]

This was the first thing I thought about when I read that. Many people live in places where they can receive TV stations from multiple markets but I'm sure the broadcasters would love it if they could restrict you to only watching the stations for "your" DMA, no matter how crappy those stations are. Or if you lived near an international border, to keep you from watching channels in the adjacent country (there are places in the USA where you only have a good selection of TV if you watch Canadian channels, and vise versa). If this is something that is optional and still allows you to do a manual scan for stations, that's fine, but if it's a case of "we well tell you which channels you can watch based on your street address" then they can shove that where the sun don't shine!

There may be ways around any restrictions anyway. The old adage, what man can make, man can break. But time will tell.