Big ATSC 3.0 Update

[Scott Greczkowski]

Lon just put out a new video explaining the sh*tshow that is ATSC 3.0. It is clear that if the FCC does not step in here that broadcast television could soon be over as we know it.

This is a very iinteresting video, which is worth the watch. Let me know your thoughts.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdALJp5w_Ns

 

[Triride44]

OTA broadcasters' business plan is not profitable today. Too many other places for advertiser to spend their money. And with the popularly of cord cutting and free add-supported streaming TV no more carriage fees. They are trying to force viewers back to cable or other pay services. OTA TV is dying a slow painful death.

 

[b4pjoe]

They are trying to force viewers back to cable or other pay services. OTA TV is dying a slow painful death.

And if the FCC gives them what they want they will speed that process up.

 

[zippyfrog]

I watched it last night - I thought it was very good. You should not need internet access to watch OTA tv...and with this encryption/DRM stuff, it seems to be necessary. To me, you should just be able to turn on your TV and watch it. As I mentioned in the other thread, and Lon mentioned in his video - bad weather. What if the internet goes down and you can't access OTA TV for the latest news and weather? There are a lot of issues. I don't know all the ins and outs, but if DRM and encryption was banned by the FCC, it seems like ATSC 3.0 has promise - but I could be missing something.

 

[comfortably_numb]

What if the internet goes down and you can't access OTA TV for the latest news and weather

Download the Accuweather app on your phone, duh!

/s

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[navychop]

 

[FTA4PA]

Download the Accuweather app on your phone, duh!

/s

And for those people who chose not to be members of the 1984 club? Just look out their window I guess?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Download the Accuweather app on your phone, duh!

/s

But my flip phone does not do apps.

 

[comfortably_numb]

But my flip phone does not do apps.

Time to call up Consumer Cellular and upgrade that bad boy

 

[mrhermit]

But my flip phone does not do apps.

How to use your Flip Phone for weather detection.
Take you flip phone outside. If it gets wet it is probably raining. If it has white flakes on it, it is probably snowing. If the phone breaks you are probably in a hail storm. If it blows out of your hand, you could be in a Tornado or a Hurricane.

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[AZ.]

I watched it last night - I thought it was very good. You should not need internet access to watch OTA tv...and with this encryption/DRM stuff, it seems to be necessary. To me, you should just be able to turn on your TV and watch it. As I mentioned in the other thread, and Lon mentioned in his video - bad weather. What if the internet goes down and you can't access OTA TV for the latest news and weather? There are a lot of issues. I don't know all the ins and outs, but if DRM and encryption was banned by the FCC, it seems like ATSC 3.0 has promise - but I could be missing something.

Its basically the same argument for keeping AM radio in cars. Except most AM stations are owned by just a handful of corporations. They have to much money wrapped up in them as they just kept taking over and no one stopped them!

 

[cpalmer2k]

Sadly I think under the current FCC leadership the broadcasters are going to get whatever they want. I do think the DRM and the total shutdown of ATSC 1.0 earlier than anticipated (if allowed) does present a safety issue. When Helene hit my area of SC cell phones didn't work because the towers either had no power, no data connectivity, or were overloaded completely. We only have one local radio station in the county that primarily operates from a 250 Watt FM Translator.

Thanks to generator power and an antenna we were able to tune into the TV news and follow what was going on to get updates. If ATSC 3 was in play and internet was required to decode the DRM that wouldn't have been possible. Now you see people in the same situations with the winter storm we've had over the last week.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Here's a question, if DRM is about sports, as the broadcasters say, then why not encrypt only during sporting events?

CBS already does that on C-band during NFL season. They encrypt during Sunday games, then go back FTA afterward.

 

[TNGuy84]

DRM isn't about sports. It's about a controlled, closed system like cable TV is. If they don't want you recording something, they'll just put a flag on the content and make it non-recordable. After all, Lon was saying in that vid that they honor to hold their word on recording rights as long as ATSC 1.0 is in the picture. As for weather events, I live in Dixie alley which sees more tornadoes in the Spring than in previous years. Not everywhere has a cell phone tower nearby for grandma and grandpa (not mine but someone's) to get a decent cell signal at all times. If Internet isn't constant or spotty, those receivers can't constantly update their encryption keys when needed. So if a tornado is coming right for their house, they're not going to know it. They'll just see a black screen on the TV instead. This is a threat to safety of the public at large. The argument to the FCC needs to be framed as such. If they can't give us 100% decrypted TV, at least leave an SD version of the same channel open with weather content that can be tuned in when necessary.

 

[Foxbat]

Over-the-Air Television is free. The licenses to operate these TV stations do not cost the operator any money paid to the government. Granted, electricity, equipment, and personnel cost money, but that's why there are Ads or Pledge Drives.

Putting DRM on a signal broadcast OTA should require a system of Public and Private keys that are perpetual, no revocation and no maintenance. If the industry cannot come up with a DRM system that won't work without an Internet connection, then they should not be allowed to use that DRM system.

Or, those broadcasters should be required to fund free Internet services that would be used to update and manage those DRM systems, whether it be terrestrial, satellite, or cellular. If the viewer is paying for a NextGen TV and the electricity to power it, then they should be able to see a signal no matter what. Well, okay, they need to be in the station's signal pattern.

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