[LINK] US digital tv switch going ahead -- sort of

[Rick Welykochy]

Jan Whitaker wrote:

> [I'm posting these in hopes that someone on Link 
> may be advising govt on what is happening there 
> so we don't go through similar confusion. There 
> was another story this week that despite the 
> running out of the subsidisation coupons/budget, 
> there probably weren't enough stbs anyway]

The issue is likely much more important here as Aussies are hooking
up to cable/paid services at a much slower rate than the Yanks.

<http://broadcastengineering.com/news/Cea-congress-tv-20050515/>
in 2005 mentioned that less than 13% of American homes have no
cable service and the number is declining rapidly, i.e. 87% of USA homes
are hooked up over cable.

What is broadcast over the cable systems in the USA? Digital or analogue?
<http://www.cablelabs.com/news/newsletter/SPECS/NovDec_2005/story6.html>
mentions that the US is a 40/60 mix of analogue and digital in 2005.

How about here? Digital on cable, IIRC.
The same page mentions 20% of Australia's 7.5 TV household subscribe to
cable, raising the number to 25% if satellite is included.

No wonder Free View is being touted as a product here. The biggest
change over will be over the airwaves, not over cable.

The reason for the low take up rate of cable here? It is an overpriced
product that compares poorly with the North American equivalent. Also
there are lifestyle and climatic differences, i.e. we ain't "cabin bound"
for five months a year here. Dare I say Australia is a more "outdoor"
oriented culture?


cheers
rickw



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