[SBE] The Future of Broadcasting

[Dan Slentz]

I hate to see us call this "off topic".  This may potential be the end of our TV industry.  Let me be the first to suggest the new name of NAB become NAS (National Association of Streamers) if this all comes around.
As VP of Technology, formerly a DoE, and Chief Engineer before that, I've found that many, many of our fellow broadcasters outside the engineering field think we know nothing more than transistors and transmitters.  My greatest impact was proving that me and our engineers were pretty insightful into the entire operation of our radio and TV facilities.  To put on "blinders" and say "not us... no interest.. off topic" continues to keep us as the "nerds with pocket protectors".  Most engineers I know have incredible knowledge and diversity in broadcasting.  And I would certainly like to see this topic active for a while.  We can turn a blind eye, but we better have a game plan and not sit quietly by and let our industry be taken over by lawyers and lobbyists (at least, anymore than it already has!)

 



________________________________
From: Francis Martin <ednixon at yahoo.com>
To: sbe member discussion mail list <sbe at sbe.org>
Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 10:58:17 AM
Subject: Re: [SBE] The Future of Broadcasting

off topic



----- Original Message ----
From: Gary <gbrefini at aol.com>
To: sbe at sbe.org
Sent: Wed, March 17, 2010 8:32:04 AM
Subject: [SBE] The Future of  Broadcasting


The danger in thinking that we just need to wire everyone up is that when you do then the bureaucrats can control who can see what. Just look at how China and Iran control what their population can see. However, broadcast it into the air and they cant regulate it. The lesson we learn from say The Voice of America is that we can get the truth to people without any local Government's permission. Ditto terrestrial broadcasts here in the US. There is an underlying push to get certain broadcasters to "knuckle under". Ask Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity what they think about this current cast of characters in Washington and Talk Radio. If they (the bureaucrats) had their way they would force stations to program 'Air America" type programming even though it does not sell. Even though people rejected it. Sound like the current health care mess? "You betcha" as Sarah would say.

And it makes no sense, unless you see it as a means for bureaucrats to control what people see on their TVs, when the FCC says broadcasters should get out of the delivery business and just create content. What was the transition to digital all about in the first place?...I am beginning to think it was a clever way to have broadcasters give up 108 MHz of spectrum by letting people think that HDTV is the future. That was Step 1...The "final solution" was then, in less than a year mind you my friends, to start floating the idea that we really do not need over the air TV at all. Nope, we can handle it via cable and fiber...Doesn't that make you wonder? It does me and it makes me wonder what these bureaucrats are up to. The old line; If it ain't broke don't fix it is very appropriate here with respect to the future of broadcasting.

Dr. Gary Brefini
Member SBE


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