DTV 2.0 is still being developed, but what’s next? The television service we have today might be called Digital Television 1.0. The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) is in the final stage of designing the features of Digital Television 2.0. What about 3.0? People are thinking long-term thoughts about that, too. One main feature of […]
Capital Currents – Online video uncertainties
The industry will find the best way. A year and a half ago, I wrote about the regulatory uncertainties associated with online delivery of video programming services. The uncertainties still haven’t been resolved, but more entities with a variety of business plans have entered the marketplace. I wrote about ivi.tv. At one point, ivi’s plan […]
Capital Currents – High-risk spectrum plays
Risky business. In light of recent legislation allowing the FCC to auction off TV broadcast spectrum, it might be instructive to review some ill-fated radio spectrum plays. Prior to the 1970s, the radio spectrum was largely used for either broadcasting or private communications, like taxicab dispatching and point-to-point microwave links. But starting in the 1970s, […]
Capital Currents – FCC CALM Act Rules
Loud burdens. People have been complaining about loud commercials for years, but now with digital TV, it’s finally possible to do something about it. Congress enacted the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act a year ago, and it required the FCC to adopt loudness rules within a year. The law requires the FCC to take […]
Capital Currents – New Video Description Rules
The FCC expects TV makers to start building TVs that can recognize VI audio. In late August, the FCC released new rules for “video description.” This is the audio track for visually impaired viewers that carries both the main program audio and a narrative description of the onscreen action of a TV program or movie. […]