[SBE] Cable companies are not allowed to digitally compress "must carry" signals, I'm told by Comcast --

[Mike Langner]

Hello everyone !

According to one of the Regional Vice-Presidents of Comcast I met with
yesterday, the "primary" DTV service from any "must carry" channel must not
be altered.  Multicasting components of even a "must carry" signal need not,
and generally will not be carried.  But he and his top technical person
emphatically emphasized in answering several questions that  the "primary"
signal, whatever format it's in, and as it may change format during the
day -- 1080p, 720p, etc, will be carried with no compression.

That said, clearly everything else is up for as much compression and the
creation of as much inventory for sale as the cable systems can come up
with.

Some providers, such as ESPN, have, I suspect, contract terms limiting how
much cable systems can "squeeze" the signal with lossy compression, but I am
not knowledgeable in this area.

Yes, it's going to be an interesting ride!

By the way, in our (Albuquerque) market, the local PBS station has
negotiated carriage of at least one of their multicast channels.  With my
converter box and outside antenna, I'm loving getting the PBS multicast
program material.  It's a rich source of information, education, and
entertainment!!

Good luck to us all !

Mike Langner, CPBE
Albuquerque, NM

  -----Original Message-----
  From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org]On Behalf Of John
Merrill
  Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 7:26 AM
  To: sbe member discussion mail list
  Subject: Re: [SBE] Verizon says it will do away with traditional
phonelinesin7 years


  It depends on the market. Cox cable does not compress our DTV signal at
all. Looks as good as off air here in Phoenix.

  John


  On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 12:56 AM, Larry Bloomfield <Larry at tech-notes.tv>
wrote:

    Well put, Clay and I concur completely.


      Larry Bloomfield - KA6UTC
      1980 25th St. - Florence, OR 97439
      (541) 902-2424 (Everything)
      WWW.Tech-Notes.TV
      See you on The Taste of NAB Road Show
      & the video @ www.Tech-Notes.TV/DVD.html


    k7cr wrote:
      Broadcasters should get together and - expose- what cable is going to
DTV signals....If the public only knew !

      Clay Freinwald
        ----- Original Message -----
        From: A9xw at cs.com
        To: sbe at sbe.org
        Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 10:45 AM
        Subject: Re: [SBE] Verizon says it will do away with traditional
phone linesin7 years


        AT&T/SBC/name of the week service was so bad at my house we cut the
lines years ago and went Vonage and cell phone. Screw the phone company
ancient techonology and ancient equipment and non existant service. Cable
isn't much better, lousy picture, HD that barely covers 6 hr VHS,  and you
have to buy 120 services to get 2 that you want.  Give me ala cart as we had
on C band home dishes.

        Henry


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