The Transition to Digital Television in the United States ... · Digital TV Transitions: DTV Switchover, Mobile TV, IPTV--Lessons and Projections Columbia Institute for Tele-Information

Digital TV Transitions: DTV Switchover, Mobile TV, IPTV--Lessons and Projectionsj

Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI)

The Transition to Digital Television The Transition to Digital Television ggin the United States: The Endgamein the United States: The Endgame

Jeffrey A. HartJeffrey A. HartIndiana UniversityIndiana UniversityIndiana UniversityIndiana UniversityOctober 2, 2009October 2, 2009

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Cambridge University Press2004

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Joel BrinkleyJoel Brinkley Defining VisionDefining VisionJoel Brinkley, Joel Brinkley, Defining VisionDefining VisionMichel Dupagne and Pete Seel, Michel Dupagne and Pete Seel, HighHigh--Definition Television: A Global PerspectiveDefinition Television: A Global PerspectiveDefinition Television: A Global PerspectiveDefinition Television: A Global PerspectiveHernan Galperin, Hernan Galperin, New Television, Old New Television, Old P litiP litiPoliticsPolitics

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Edit Mi h l St k O f dEditor: Michael Starks, Oxford

Associate Editors:

Jeffrey Hart Indiana UniversityJeffrey Hart, Indiana University

Jock Given, Swinburne University

International Journalof Digital Television

US Response to Japanese and US Response to Japanese and E HDTV S d dE HDTV S d dEuropean HDTV StandardsEuropean HDTV Standards

US rejected MUSE/HiUS rejected MUSE/Hi--Vision in 1988 afterVision in 1988 afterUS rejected MUSE/HiUS rejected MUSE/Hi Vision in 1988 after Vision in 1988 after initial supportinitial supportFCC decided to back a digital TV standardFCC decided to back a digital TV standardFCC decided to back a digital TV standard FCC decided to back a digital TV standard in 1993in 1993US di it l t d d ifi d i FCCUS di it l t d d ifi d i FCCUS digital standards specified in FCC US digital standards specified in FCC decisions in 1996 and 1997decisions in 1996 and 1997

Reed HundtAl Sikes

FCC DTV Standards Decisions as FCC DTV Standards Decisions as f 1996 d 1997f 1996 d 1997of 1996 and 1997of 1996 and 1997

Multiple DTV formats:Multiple DTV formats:Multiple DTV formats:Multiple DTV formats:480i and 480p480i and 480p720i and 720p720i and 720ppp1080i and 1080p1080i and 1080p

All ATSC tuners must decode all formats; All ATSC tuners must decode all formats; Broadcasters can pick and choose what Broadcasters can pick and choose what format to broadcastformat to broadcastAll new TVs must have ATSC tuners by the All new TVs must have ATSC tuners by the end of 2007end of 2007

Sinclair Challenges 8Sinclair Challenges 8--VSBVSBSinclair Challenges 8Sinclair Challenges 8 VSBVSB

In 1999 Sinclair Broadcasting questionedIn 1999 Sinclair Broadcasting questionedIn 1999 Sinclair Broadcasting questioned In 1999 Sinclair Broadcasting questioned the ATSC’s choice of 8the ATSC’s choice of 8--VSB (Video Side VSB (Video Side Band) modulation of the overBand) modulation of the over--thethe--air signal air signal )) ggand petitioned the FCC for adoption of and petitioned the FCC for adoption of COFDM (used in the European DVB COFDM (used in the European DVB

t ) i t dt ) i t dsystem) instead system) instead Although the FCC eventually denied the Although the FCC eventually denied the

titi l i f th t iti ttiti l i f th t iti tpetition, planning for the transition to petition, planning for the transition to digital TV was delayed for about 2 yearsdigital TV was delayed for about 2 years

DigitalDigital--CableCable--Ready TVs and the Ready TVs and the C bl C dC bl C dCableCardCableCard

CEA/NCTA M d fCEA/NCTA M d fCEA/NCTA Memorandum of CEA/NCTA Memorandum of Understanding in December 2002 Understanding in December 2002 calls for a “plug and play” format for calls for a “plug and play” format for

i l f bl t DTVi l f bl t DTVoneone--way signals from cable to DTV way signals from cable to DTV setssetsFCC adopted the approach formally FCC adopted the approach formally yyin September 2003in September 2003FCC recommended the FCC recommended the CableCardCableCardsystemsystemsystemsystemCable operators did not agree with Cable operators did not agree with proposals for twoproposals for two--way systems, way systems, despite set manufacturersdespite set manufacturersdespite set manufacturers despite set manufacturers preferences for them to do sopreferences for them to do so

Switchover Decisions during the Switchover Decisions during the B h Ad i i iB h Ad i i iBush AdministrationBush Administration

Set a deadline of Feb 17 2009Set a deadline of Feb 17 2009Set a deadline of Feb. 17, 2009Set a deadline of Feb. 17, 2009Created and funded the converter box Created and funded the converter box programprogramprogramprogramSet up education programsSet up education programsWorked with industry, NGOs, and other Worked with industry, NGOs, and other organizations to ease the transition for the organizations to ease the transition for the most vulnerable members of societymost vulnerable members of society

The FCC in 2004The FCC in 2004The FCC in 2004The FCC in 2004

L to R: Kevin Martin, Kathleen Abernathy, Michael Powell,Michael Copps, and Jonathan Adelstein

The FCC in 2008The FCC in 2008The FCC in 2008The FCC in 2008

Converter Box ProgramConverter Box ProgramConverter Box ProgramConverter Box Program

Authorized in theAuthorized in theAuthorized in theAuthorized in theAuthorized in the Authorized in the Digital Television Digital Television Transition and Public Transition and Public

Authorized in the Authorized in the Digital Television Digital Television Transition and Public Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005Safety Act of 2005Administered by the Administered by the Safety Act of 2005Safety Act of 2005Administered by the Administered by the National National Telecommunications Telecommunications and Informationand Information

National National Telecommunications Telecommunications and Informationand Informationand Information and Information Administration (NTIA)Administration (NTIA)and Information and Information Administration (NTIA)Administration (NTIA)

Converter Box ControversiesConverter Box ControversiesConverter Box ControversiesConverter Box ControversiesUnder fundedUnder fundedNTIA refused to issue NTIA refused to issue more coupons when more coupons when

l f il d tl f il d tpeople failed to people failed to redeem themredeem themRetailers were slow toRetailers were slow toRetailers were slow to Retailers were slow to stock converters or stock converters or did not honor did not honor coupons when coupons when presentedpresented

Meredith Baker, NTIAadministrator

Education ProgramEducation ProgramEducation ProgramEducation Program

Initially left too much to industry andInitially left too much to industry andInitially left too much to industry and Initially left too much to industry and possibly under fundedpossibly under fundedPolls showed people did not understandPolls showed people did not understandPolls showed people did not understand Polls showed people did not understand the transitionthe transitionNi l d t hi f DTVNi l d t hi f DTV ddNielson data on ownership of DTVNielson data on ownership of DTV--ready ready sets by people who depended on oversets by people who depended on over--thethe--i b d t h di b d t h dair broadcasts showed many were air broadcasts showed many were

“unready” for the transition“unready” for the transition

Obama Weighs InObama Weighs InObama Weighs InObama Weighs In

Podesta letter of November 2008 supportsPodesta letter of November 2008 supportsPodesta letter of November 2008 supports Podesta letter of November 2008 supports passage of a bill to delay transition from passage of a bill to delay transition from February 2009 to June 2009February 2009 to June 2009February 2009 to June 2009February 2009 to June 2009Funding of converter box program Funding of converter box program increased using stimulus package fundsincreased using stimulus package fundsincreased using stimulus package fundsincreased using stimulus package funds

Obama Statement Feb 2009Obama Statement Feb 2009Obama Statement, Feb. 2009Obama Statement, Feb. 2009

"Millions of Americans, including"Millions of Americans, includingMillions of Americans, including Millions of Americans, including those in our most vulnerable those in our most vulnerable communities, would have been communities, would have been left in the dark if the conversion left in the dark if the conversion had gone on as planned, and had gone on as planned, and thi l ti i i t t tthi l ti i i t t tthis solution is an important step this solution is an important step forward as we work to get the forward as we work to get the nation ready for digital TV "nation ready for digital TV "nation ready for digital TV… nation ready for digital TV…

Percentage of Households Percentage of Households U d f A l S i hU d f A l S i h OffOffUnready for Analog SwitchUnready for Analog Switch--OffOff

21-Dec-0818-Jan-091-Feb-0915-Feb-091-Mar-0815-Mar-0929-Mar-0912-Apr-0926-Apr-0910 M 09

0 2 4 6 8

10-May-0925-May-097-Jun-09

Source: The Nielson Company.

Final QuestionsFinal QuestionsFinal QuestionsFinal Questions

Was the transition successful?Was the transition successful?Was the transition successful?Was the transition successful?Yes, but still some problems remain Yes, but still some problems remain (antennas digital reception issues LPTV(antennas digital reception issues LPTV(antennas, digital reception issues, LPTV (antennas, digital reception issues, LPTV transition still not complete)transition still not complete)

Would it have been successful without theWould it have been successful without theWould it have been successful without the Would it have been successful without the final delay?final delay?

Perhaps but adjustment costs for the poorPerhaps but adjustment costs for the poorPerhaps, but adjustment costs for the poor Perhaps, but adjustment costs for the poor and elderly would have been higher and elderly would have been higher