News from Lon.TV YouTube channel.
Yeah, the NAB is asking to push things along toward ATSC 3.0. Hey, NAB, you want fast adoption of ATSC 3.0? Itās simple, completely drop DRM encryption nationwide so that device makers, such as Nuvyyo, can easily produce the tuners without grief. It should only be used for subchannels intended for subscription, such as ESPN, HBO, Showtime, etc.
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There is only 1 reason for the hard push for ATSC 3.0 including DRM and network connect.
$$$$$$
Any other attempts to justify it are simply total BS.
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For those that didnāt watch the video, Lon has a link within it to an FCC filing form where you can voice your opinion and request that DRM be removed from the standard or express some other change.
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Zero way this happens. Remember, right now, not every new TV for sale (talking about main branded TVs) have ATSC 3.0 tuners, regardless of their ability to properly handle DRM.
IMHO, that has to be the case first before we can even talk about anything ATSC 3.0 (to the detriment of ATSC 1.0) happening in 2-3 years (in fact, Iād say 5).
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The FCC extended the ATSC 3.0 āsubstantially similarā rule and A/322 standard sunset date to July 17, 2027. This means that until at least July 17, 2027, these rules will remain in effect
The āATSC 3.0 sunset rule 2027ā refers to the FCC-mandated date of July 17, 2027, by which broadcasters are required to fully transition from the older ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard to the newer ATSC 3.0 standard, meaning that after this date, they are no longer obligated to simulcast their programming on both formats, and can potentially focus solely on transmitting ATSC 3.0 signals, which offer enhanced features like 4K resolution and interactive capabilities; this āsunsetā date specifically applies to the āsubstantially similarā rule, which requires that the programming on the ATSC 1.0 simulcast must be largely the same as the primary ATSC 3.0 broadcast, with exceptions for features only possible on the newer standard.
Once the standard is in place, it could happen pretty quickly. Does anyone know if thereās a complete, working, and approved standard for the DRM āfeatureā? If not, I agree that this has to happen first.
Theyāre not going to cutoff everyone (the effect) until they can reasonably guess that people have capable end devices.
This isnāt the govāt mandate like last time where you can just ask to get your āfreeā tuner. Nothing like that.
There have just been too many barriers. And this must force things to be held back. If I spend USD$40K on my ānew ultra mega TVā last year, and you say, āweāre going to make sure it wonāt workāā¦ not going to set well with me.
So, we need full availability in the market at least for several years before pulling the switch. And IMHO, those years need to be >= 5. Or there will be plenty of upset people.
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Good point.
I guess the FCC sunset date, which has already been extended once, is meaningless
FCC-mandated date of July 17, 2027, by which broadcasters are required to fully transition from the older ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard to the newer ATSC 3.0 standard, meaning that after this date, they are no longer obligated to simulcast their programming on both formats, and can potentially focus solely on transmitting ATSC 3.0
Iāve been looking for a new 42" to 48" TV that has an ATSC 3.0 tuner and I could only find 2 TVs that have an ATSC 3.0 tuner in that size range. The only ones I found were 2022 model year Sony Bravia A90K series. The 42" sells for $1,300 and the 48" sells for $1,400.
The fact that there are no 2024 models available from any manufacturer in that size range regardless of price, illustrates that TV manufacturers do not see a market for ATSC 3.0 TVs while there is such uncertainty regarding DRM and patents.
Hopefully the FCC wonāt eliminate the requirement to simulcast the ATSC 1.0 standard until TV manufacturers have started selling ATSC 3.0 tuners in the majority of their products for at least as @cjcox stated 5 years or more.
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What DRM means is that OTA will no longer be free. Or maybe some shows will be, but the more āpopularā ones will require a subscription. A return to cable type costs for OTA. Enjoy progress!
in my areaā¦ they broadcast both 1.0 an 3.0
I work with a guy whoās wife works at one of the stationsā¦ and she mentioned they have no future plans to cut off 1.0 any time soon. She thinks that would be a disaster.
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We are far from anything like the āGrand Allianceā that made it possible for HD to come in. And it took forever. IIRC the switch to HD was the subject of regular feature articles in Pop Sci for at least 15+ years, which is one reason we called it āpopular science fictionā magazine. Pop Sci is now ājustā a website IIRC.
There is nextgen in my area but I donāt need it. I watch local news, mainly for the weather, but I can see the same news shows online, no TV or Tablo needed. And as Antenna Man said in a recent episode, the ānewsā part is less and less informative, with fewer station owners. And actually there are better weather alternatives on line or YT, where they do not have to sensationalize everything like OTA needs to, to sell ad time. The game shows that my wife likes are such money machines they will be available next gen or not for years yet, IMO.
So count me on the sidelines and indifferent, I have bigger fish to fry and there are lots of other electronic hobbies.
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Would NAB be the 2025 equivalent of the āGrand Allianceā
One of the ironies of all of this for me is the quality of OTA TV programming continues to deteriorate rapidly, while the frequency of commercials increases exponentially (or so it seems). I for one will never pay much, if anything, for OTA content. I think without time shift and commercial skip, the market for devices like the Tablo would disappear, and so would my OTA interest.
The competition for our hard-earned entertainment $ (and attention - eg advertising $) is already so intense itās become ridiculous. I donāt see any way the average consumer can keep increasing spending, never mind increasing available time, for so many companies, employees, stockholders, āinfluencersā, ācontent creatorsā, etc. to jump on the entertainment $ bandwagon and make enough to even eat. Something has to give.
Iāve put a lot of effort into OTA TV and also the FireTV Recast first, and now the Tablo. Iāll drop it all in a heartbeat and find another entertainment diversion if/when the ATSC 3.0 gang start trying to force their way in to my wallet. I will never go back to the stupid-high monthly cost of cable or satellite TV, either.
Yes, I know Iām ranting ā¦ but Iāve just about had enough!
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Maybe, since it seems the technical specs for nextgen are being held up by broadcasters arguing over DRM, as far as I understand it. I donāt recall the broadcasters themselves being in the grand alliance.
BITD there were no DRM issues for HD since recording from the public airwaves, for personal use, was clearly allowed by the Communications act of 1934. At least thatās what I remember.
I donāt recall the politics of how we all got 2 āfreeā converter boxes per household.
ATSC 1.0 was a government mandated conversion. Thus, those two āfreeā converter boxes.
As for the rest, this mess has been brought to you buy NextgenTV and station broadcasters.
(edit: And an upset patent holder.)
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