[20TIL6]

http://ibc.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=175784

Looks like those here that envisioned a USB dongle get the cookie.

Can we put the SDV FUD to bed now?

 

[vman41]

... Instead, the CEA wants cable to provide a way for devices to support "basic" interactive services, including VOD, SDV, EPGs and pay-per-view, in the way that low-end digital cable set-top boxes do today.

In its comments to the FCC Friday, the NCTA opposed the CEA's proposal, saying it would "strip away the most exciting interactive services and features that distinguishes [sic] cable from its competitors."

So NTCA is admitting that OCAP's purpose is to lock out services that would compete with those the cable company wants to sell through the device. If there is an OCAP alternative, then the consumer could only be enticed to an OCAP device by offering the best value for those services (which would no longer be exclusive).

 

[moyekj]

http://ibc.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=175784

Looks like those here that envisioned a USB dongle get the cookie.

Can we put the SDV FUD to bed now?

Wow, great find! Thanks for posting. I will post a pointer in the SDV FAQ thread over to here.

 

[dolfer]

This is huge isn't it????

 

[vman41]

This is huge isn't it????

All it talks about is 'offer to develop' some a 'tuner resolver' for SDV, sounds kind of nebulous at this point.

If you're using the cable companies broadband service, you have an upstream communication path already and shouldn't need additional hardware (just support for a new protocol).

 

[acvthree]

Yes, but...

>>>Cable Offers to Develop 'Tuning Resolver' for CE Devices to Receive Switched Linear Channels

How long did it take for cable to develop CableCards? Wasn't it something like 8 years?

How much are they going to rent it for? Is the sky the limit?

Al

 

[1003]

http://ibc.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=175784
Can we put the SDV FUD to bed now?

When
checklist is complete...

[/]Announce concept of it
[ ]Developer designs it
[ ]TiVo approves it
[ ]Somebody manufacturers it
[ ]Cable Labs approves it
[ ]Comcast supports it
[ ]Braver than I, forum members test it
[ ]I can easily get it

Hmmmmm, not a single check below announce concept, this has a way to go before it arrives at my house.

So far, no checked boxes. FUD is certainly keeping me from buying a TiVoHD despite this report there is no official annoncement by TiVo to support this technology. Right now a way to map unencrypted QAM channels to the OTA broadcast data might get me to switch a bit faster without a SDV commitment...

 

[slimoli]

An easy solution would be cable companies offering TIVO as an alternative, like Directv did for years. We would be able to rent the boxes , pay a lower fee to Tivo since the volume would be much higher and no longer deal with the crappy Motorola or SA boxes.

I also have a strong feeling that after November, when Directv changes ownership again, some kind of agreement will be announced between Tivo and D*. Why is this important to S3 users ? Because we are very picky and love HD . D* will have MUCH more HD than any cable very soon and chances are many S3 users will be D* customers.

Sergio

 

[dolfer]

Yes, but...

>>>Cable Offers to Develop 'Tuning Resolver' for CE Devices to Receive Switched Linear Channels

How long did it take for cable to develop CableCards? Wasn't it something like 8 years?

How much are they going to rent it for? Is the sky the limit?

Al

Considering the rate at which Time Warner is rolling out new HD channels, I probably won't need to worry about it for 8 years! I just rec'd the new channel lineup announcement and was greeted with 2 spanking new HD channels - ESPN2HD and a new local channel.

There's no point in using SDV if you don't have the HD channels to begin with. Right?

 

[ajwees41]

An easy solution would be cable companies offering TIVO as an alternative, like Directv did for years. We would be able to rent the boxes , pay a lower fee to Tivo since the volume would be much higher and no longer deal with the crappy Motorola or SA boxes.

I also have a strong feeling that after November, when Directv changes ownership again, some kind of agreement will be announced between Tivo and D*. Why is this important to S3 users ? Because we are very picky and love HD . D* will have MUCH more HD than any cable very soon and chances are many S3 users will be D* customers.

Sergio

Cox and comcast are already working with Tivo for a software update to the dvrs to add tivo software.

ajwees41

 

[sfhub]

Cool, so is this another $1.79 fee we'll need to pay in addition to the additional outlet fees and HiDef equipment fees some areas are forcing on people? Do we need to upgrade to "Digital Cable" to get the dongle?

 

[acvthree]

Cool, so is this another $1.79 fee we'll need to pay in addition to the additional outlet fees and HiDef equipment fees some areas are forcing on people? Do we need to upgrade to "Digital Cable" to get the dongle?

It could be.

It could just as easily be considered a premium service and priced at $10.79.

Al

 

[ajwees41]

Cool, so is this another $1.79 fee we'll need to pay in addition to the additional outlet fees and HiDef equipment fees some areas are forcing on people? Do we need to upgrade to "Digital Cable" to get the dongle?

I think it would be included with the tivo (CE) cardboard box and not not from the cable companies just my opinion.

ajwees41

 

[sfhub]

I think it should (vs would) be included also but I guess the devil is in the details. If they do it standardized and generic like cablemodems, then it would be better for consumers, but if how SDV is implemented requires different implementations of this dongle for different vendors we'll just have another piece of equipment we need to get from the cable company.

Personally I would hope this is just a low level QPSK or DOCSIS modem and everything else can be handled in software on the TiVo so we can get this thing on our own, plug it in, and expect it to work.

If we have to get the equipment from the cable company, schedule a truck roll, activate the thing, etc., that would compound the existing problems with CableCARD.

 

[pkscout]

Well, it's baby steps at least. Now we can start harassing TiVo about when it will be ready. I think I'll go and check to make sure my beta application is up to date.

Here's my favorite part though:

Besides OpenCable and the switched-channel resolver, the NCTA had a third suggestion: a standard for interactive services that would work across all multichannel video providers -- not just cable, but also on satellite and telephone companies' networks. "The cable industry could work on such a solution should the commission bring those networks into meaningful regulation," the association said.

Nice gentle reminder that the satellite folks have been exempt from the telcom law to date. I would actually love to see just such a device someday. I'd love to be able to buy my TiVo and then decide one which carrier (satellite or cable) I want to get content. And it would be easy to switch back and forth then as well. Maybe before I die. Maybe.

 

[sfhub]

Besides OpenCable and the switched-channel resolver, the NCTA had a third suggestion: a standard for interactive services that would work across all multichannel video providers -- not just cable, but also on satellite and telephone companies' networks. "The cable industry could work on such a solution should the commission bring those networks into meaningful regulation," the association said.

Isn't that a variation of the fox guarding the chicken coop? Maybe they should involve the satellite and telephone industries?

 

[MickeS]

This is great news. At least it's an official start to this. I know nothing about this area, but it doesn't seem like it should be that complex a task to develop something like this. Could we hope for before 2009?

 

[lrhorer]

How long did it take for cable to develop CableCards? Wasn't it something like 8 years?

'More like 20 years. The CATV and consumer electronics industries have been trying to come to agreements on a security device since the early 1980s. It literally took congressional legislation to get them off their butts, and they are all still dragging their feet.

 

[lrhorer]

This is huge isn't it????

No, not really.

 

[lrhorer]

This is great news. At least it's an official start to this. I know nothing about this area, but it doesn't seem like it should be that complex a task to develop something like this. Could we hope for before 2009?

While a USB dongle is certainly possible, a software solution using the Ethernet port is a much better solution. Replacing the CATV receiver in the TiVo with a transciever is even better.