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Broadcasters are encrypting over the air TV channels
- PrivateButts 3y agoOf course we can't have anything nice anymore. Soon the only free OTA channels will be the bible thumping happy hour crap. We use OTA to watch the local news, and it feels like this will be another blow to our ability to hear about what's going on in our community.
- JohnFen 3y ago> We use OTA to watch the local news You're lucky to be able to do this! Since the digital switchover, the number of OTA channels that I can receive was reduced to one. So that was effectively the death of OTA TV for me. Which admittedly wasn't the worst thing, as it got me to stop watching television entirely.
- bequanna 3y agoMost network and local news is junk now anyway. Local stations may have some cute human interest stories but most of it has become incredibly biased with a predetermined narrative.
- DHPersonal 3y agoFor those of us in Oklahoma, it's great entertainment during a severe thunderstorm.
- TheLoafOfBread 3y agoFor emergency situations there is a radio. OTA TV will die forgotten.
- JohnFen 3y agoRadio is heading for the graveyard, too. https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/audio/a44065209/death-of-am-radio/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/audio/a44065209/...
- RF_Enthusiast 3y agoKeep in mind that is just AM. FM radio is still a top audio delivery platform and is not subject to the problems plaguing AM.
- gorkish 3y agoWhat is even the point of a local network affiliate broadcasting an encrypted ATSC signal? Do they really think that they can monetize a local market this way?
- xattt 3y agoIt’s because (1) people won’t know where to complain and (2) if they do, regulators seem somewhat inaccessible to ordinary citizens. OTA viewers won’t know what the issue is and move on.
- gorkish 3y agoI find it incredibly unlikely that stations are spending the money to upgrade their broadcasts to ATSC 3.0 and maintain and operate the equipment solely to broadcast an encrypted signal that nobody can use.
- jretcfygv 3y ago[flagged]
- RF_Enthusiast 3y agoThe big broadcasters would love to get rid of the OTA audience (and send them to subscription platforms). ATSC 3.0 encryption is the perfect way to do that.
- RF_Enthusiast 3y agoComplaints would also have limited impact, since the stations have the right to encrypt and are breaking no laws.
- RF_Enthusiast 3y agoOTA currently circumvents cable and satellite, in which the broadcaster gets re-transmission compensation; and circumvents their OTT delivery systems, in which they can chose to charge for access. OTA viewing, which is currently at about 20% in many major markets, is a threat to this model. If they drop OTA, they lose rights to re-transmission fees. But they can limit OTA if they want. So I think that's why they want to encrypt ATSC 3.0. Side Note: Only the largest broadcasters can demand re-transmission fees. Low-power, public and most independent TV operators don't have this right.
- jretcfygv 3y ago[flagged]
- jretcfygv 3y ago[flagged]
- jretcfygv 3y ago[flagged]
- Kon-Peki 3y agoI flipped through all the OTA channels here in Chicago and my ~10 year old HDTV showed them crisp and clear. Is this only in Boston and Connecticut? Slowly moving west? I bet the SHTF once it reaches NYC. EDIT - it looks like NYC and Chicago each have a single ATSC 3 broadcaster, neither of which is worth watching. No wonder I haven’t noticed.
- RF_Enthusiast 3y agoThose low power stations in NYC and Chicago are currently using it for a different reason. ATSC 3.0 technically allows for an analog FM side channel at the upper end of the channel's spectrum. In both of those cases, that lands right around 87.7 MHz, which is receivable on most FM radios. They run that as a defacto commercial radio station.
- Kon-Peki 3y agoHuh, so that gives them a TV station and a radio station for the price of a TV station? I wonder if the perceived benefit translates to an actual benefit in practice.
- RF_Enthusiast 3y agoYup! The Chicago one does pretty well in the ratings. It's easier to monetize an FM radio signal than a low power TV station.