Trying to Beat Broadcast Over the Ears

TRYING TO BEAT BROADCAST OVER THE EARS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Todd Spangler]
CableLabs, in a two-paragraph press release earlier this month, said it is developing specifications for an interface that would let set-top boxes receive digital broadcast signals off the air. This technology would allow households to see broadcast TV signals alongside cable programming “as an integrated viewing experience,” the consortium said. Why would a cable operator want to do this? The prime motivation appears to be improving cable’s bargaining position with broadcast TV station operators over carriage of their signals. Under current public policy, broadcasters can pursue two paths in getting distribution for their stations on cable systems. Either they can force carriage, without getting payment, through federal must-carry rules. Or, if they want to get paid, they can negotiate specific agreements with cable operators over the terms of retransmission. In the must-carry case, turning set-top boxes into off-air TV receivers could save cable operators bandwidth. Here’s how. The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that broadcasters provide all-digital over-the-air signals by Feb. 17, 2009. Existing FCC rules require operators to carry just one programming stream from each local digital-TV station that has elected mandatory carriage. Right now, those signals must be carried over the cable system’s physical plant. But if there’s a reliable technical alternative, such as this, those regulations may change.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6423301.html?display=Top+Stories