Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (
More info?)
SAC441@webtv.net (SAC 441) shaped the electrons to say:
>....and a LOT of cable companies will be hurting too once DirecTV
>launches their Spaceway satellites with the MPEG-4 Ka-cluster.When 1500
>local channels become available in high definition in 2 years time via
>satellite,even Comcast is going to feel the competitive pressure of
You do realize that they'll need to get agreements to be able to carry
the locals, and it isn't like any DTV user will have access to that
number of channels - just their own locals, if that. Cable will
almost certainly be offering the same channel lineups of national and
locals in HD - so I really don't see any big competitive advantage in
Those Ka birds are for spot beams. It will allow DirecTV to carry
more locals - but cable is already carrying the locals, or will be.
It isn't some overwhelming advantage to DTV.
DTV also has to deal with the growing demand for broadband - which is
something cable can provide and they can't. (Satellite broadband was
a flop, they tried it - they can't match terestrial speeds, or even
new wireless systems like WiMax.) And they'll have added competition
from IPTV which Verizon, SBC, and BellSouth are all pushing.
Verizon's fiber efforts are the most agressive - Verizon will be able
to offer fiber customers high speed data, full digital cable, IPTV,
voice, etc, over glass - they'll have more bandwidth than the cable
companies.
I'm not slagging DTV, I think they have a good service, but just
lofting four birds and adding Ka HD spot beams isn't going to somehow
make them unbeatable in the market.
> And what is the big deal with VOD anyway?
Ask the people who are making it one of the fastest revenue segments
for the cable market. VOD is popular - it is more than just a coupel
of movies now. There have been entire networks run as VOD - The Anime
Network started out as VOD, and still is in some markets (it is more a
'normal' network in others now). And some of the major name networks
are looking at VOD as a way to offer their shows without advertising.
Want to see Lost with no ads, whenever? Pay a buck an episode -
probably less in time.
Networks are looking at it as a possible way to fight DVRs - who needs
a DVR when you have a DVR-in-the-sky that has all the shows whenever
you want them? That's well in the future, but they're already talking
about it. HBO and Showtime are already embracing it.
Get the price down low enough and I'd probably be willing to subscribe
to the shows I like for a free to have them commercial free.
>Hotels and Guest Inns have had this feature for YEARS.......it is hardly
>a new idea.
The concept isn't new - how it is being used now is.
-MZ, RHCE #806199299900541, ex-CISSP #3762
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