[mythtv-users] DVB - W5 (4DTV) & KU/C-Band Question

Brian Wood beww at beww.org
Mon Oct 18 17:34:52 UTC 2010


On Monday, October 18, 2010 11:25:24 am mike at grounded.net wrote:
> > I'm sorry you got hit with a load of stuff that meant nothing to you, but
> > we get
> > regular mentions here and the reading of the rules was to be expected. We
> > obviously have no idea what you do or don't know about such subjects
> >until you tell us.
> 
> I understand that. Like I said, not everyone is interested in hacking, some
> just want to understand what options might be available to them. That's
> especially why I thought this list would be the place to ask such a
> question because it's not about doing anything illegal, it's about finding
> ways of enjoying TV more.
> 
> Not sure where to look if not here I guess since I'm not interested in
> joining hacking communities of that type.
> 
> Thanks for the insight, it helps to better understand things.
> 
> >> Sounds like the freesat service is going to do well if they have their
> >>own box. I bet they will expand here to the US based on the above and of
> >>course, depending on potential customer base.
> 
>  
> 
> >Nope. Sky is the monopoly provider of satellite services in the UK and is
> >partly owned (40% I think) by Rupert Murdoch (Sound familiar? Fox, for
> >example?) who wants to get his hands on the rest.
> 
> No way? I've never understood who is actually offering this, I thought it
> was set up by people who felt there might be enough business to contact
> channels directly, buying from them directly if they had enough user base.
> Essentially, bypassing the usual DTV or Dish offerings that is all we have
> here.
> 
> Knowing this really puts a damper on my wanting to tell everyone about the
> 'alternative' W5 I've found.
> 
> I guess the only way the monopolies will slow down is once Internet TV gets
> big enough that small companies can be formed to buy direct assuming the
> channels aren't being strong armed by the major players.

The problem is that, at least in the US, much of the internet (at least the "last mile") is controlled by the same media 
companies who stand to lose if internet TV starts to gain ground.

They are already starting to enforce bandwidth caps that make switching to internet-delivered TV either impossible or very 
expensive.



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