Tivo's back up plan for ATSC 3.0 or NO CABLE CARD

Yes, some kind of reassurance that we won't be left out to dry with ATSC 1.0 tuners would be nice but that probably is their "plan".

 

If a station has to change frequencies from UHF to VHF, what would be the cost differential to continue broadcasting using ATSC 1.0 versus switching over to ATSC 3.0? It seems like many stations will change frequencies irrespective of market size. Also, it seems like ATSC 3.0 would allow a station to broadcast more sub channels which would translate to increased revenue.

 

The break even point on all my TiVo hardware including my OTA is in a little over two years. I'm not the least bit worried that HD versions of the channels I care about on ATSC 1.0 OTA are going away anytime in the next 10 years.

 

What the heck does support for SDV have to do with the ability to support an external tuner? SDV still uses the TiVos tuners.

 

Then you're essentially betting that ATSC 3.0 isn't going to happen (at least in your local market). Because if it does, it will be in place in the next several years and HD on ATSC 1.0 will be gone in less than a decade. Heck, ATSC 1.0 (along with FM and AM radio) could be gone completely in a decade.

 

I'll take that bet!

(AM and FM)

 

It might happen; I don't care if it happens... if it does it might even encourage me to buy a UHD to play around with it. My attitude is based more on I'm in a relativity smaller market that my intuition tells me both will still have plenty of bandwidth AND will not be the most progressive early adopting community both in terms of station ownership cheapness and average consumers having little desire or need to go out of their way to make a special $1000+ main TV purchase just for 3.0. Try to tell a community they HAVE to throw out old electronics and/or spend bucks on new equipment just to get at least the HD quality they're accustomed to and hell hath no fury like the political backlash you'll see.

 

In a decade I could be dead, the sun could go super nova, aliens could invade, and the world could end. Worrying about future events that we have zero control over is a complete waist of time and ones life.

We are watching TV today, watching with a good DVR enhances that experience by a significant amount. Living without a good DVR today because we may have to replace it in a few years (likely with something better) is complete foolishness.

If my Roamio and Bolt blow up I would be ordering another Bolt or Roamio OTA with in a few days (just long enough to verify I couldn't fix them myself), and I have a Series 3, TiVo HD, & Premiere that all still work just fine.

 

Add to that with all the talk of what MIGHT happen I think some people are greatly underestimating the socioeconomic political obstacles of making it happen.

 

ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 will coexist. You will add an ATSC 3.0 router to your network and stream those channels to set top hardware. ATSC 1.0 will continue to get there as it always has. Some stations in some markets will add UHD capability via ATSC 3.0, but most of the ATSC 3.0 use will be by subscription services so that people without uncapped, unthrottled high speed internet will be able to get HBO and Netflix. TiVo will add an app to their boxes which renders the ATSC 3.0 stream as delivered by the router.

 

But the reverse auctions that start at the end of May are structured to pay out the most money to the first stations that agree to sell their frequency. The longer a station waits to sell, the less money they could get for their frequency.

Once the station moves from UHF to VHF they need new equipment to broadcast the VHF signal. Are you saying station that has to move to VHF would invest in new equipment to broadcast in ATSC 1.0?

 

Do you think it's possible that stations that have to change frequencies would broadcast ATSC 1.0 from the new frequency?

 

They have no choice. This is a repack of the frequencies, not a change to the broadcast standard. Until the FCC approves a new standard and gives them approval to broadcast in said standard aka ATSC 3.0. The stations that move will be broadcasting in 1.0 on their new assignments.

 

Each market is going to be affected differently. For me it is basically a none issue and basically nothing much has to change do to Governments repurchase. Of the 6 frequencies currently being used for OTA (10, 13, 16, 23, 28 & 45 ) only one of them (45) is being bought back by the Government and removed from OTA use, if that channel (my CBS station) goes to an open VHF (it was on frequency 8 in the analog days) or open UHF frequency seems like a pretty easy thing as we have plenty open in the range being left for OTA.

In big cities where allot more frequencies are being used I am sure it will be more difficult.