OUCH........Say it Can't Happen!

[Greg]

I just came across this new brief on Yahoo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_free_b...sters_in_peril

So, now OTA will be going away? First the cable companies are nearly ready to encrypt everything, which will require an STB of one form or another, they are also in negotiations to cut-off the analog outputs on a show by show basis (or at least limit resolution), and now OTA.

This going to make it real difficult for any SageTV users. Currently, I am not a SageTV or even a DVR user. I am in the process of selecting components for a Sage server and now I read this article. This would mean HD-PVR for everything, but only for those shows that will allow the analog outputs to be available.

Not cool!

[IVB]

I read that too, but thinking it through I'm not too stressed. The last 2-3 broadcasters standing could command some serious advertisting dollars if they have quality content as they'll have bazillions of viewers who don't want to pay for cable/dish. Right now the audience is stretched between multiple broadcasters.

I think broadcasters & hence your Sage Server will be fine for the next 3-5 years. You can't really expect more than that from a PC anyhow :-)

[stanger89]

I think it's quite early for gloom and doom. I don't see DOT (digital only token) or SOC (Selectable Output Control) being used any time soon, and even if so, at least for the moment they're only looking at it for PPV.

Originally Posted by IVB

The last 2-3 broadcasters standing could command some serious advertisting dollars if they have quality content as they'll have bazillions of viewers who don't want to pay for cable/dish.

That's overstating it a bit. Only 11% of households use an antenna/OTA for TV.

[korben_dallas]

Free TV is too big to fail. I see another government bail out..