[mythtv-users] Silicondust Makes CableCard Announcement

Brian Wood beww at beww.org
Sat Jan 9 15:43:15 UTC 2010


On Saturday 09 January 2010 08:24:26 am jedi wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 08, 2010 at 02:34:25PM -0500, Jason Sullivan wrote:
> > On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 2:27 PM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
> > > I'm surprised Apple doesn't fight the "Windows only" approach to
> > > CableCard, but they haven't shown much interest that I can see.
> >
> > I think Apple is pretty much completely uninterested in broadcast TV,
> > and is looking to hasten the end of that as we know it (either via
> > iTunes, or some other network delivery manner).  Their whole approach
> > to content is is to cut the broadcasters out of it.  Why have a PVR
> > when you could have a podcast, after all?
> 
> ...it's a noble idea but doesn't seem to work out so well in practice.

The iTunes approach to music has changed things significantly, contributing 
greatly to the demise of DRM on a lot of music, and getting a lot of artists 
the exposure the old ways prevented.

Whether it will work with video is another question, even Apple shows no signs 
of eliminating DRM from video, probably because the suppliers have been 
brainwashed by MS into thinking DRM is necessary to their continued profits.

High power land-based broadcasting is environmentally wrong, inefficient and 
helps nobody but the license holders. If Apple, or anyone else, can promote 
better alternatives they have my support.

The idea that the public owns the airwaves, and that broadcasters operate in 
the public interest is bunk. Even in the rare cases where the government pulls 
a license (Gencorp/RKO in Boston), the license just goes to someone worse, 
with better lobbyists.


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