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USDTV Announces Low-Cost, Localized Digital TV

Posted by simoniker on from the similarities-to-uk-service dept.

pagercam2 writes "According to a CNN story, USDTV is about to roll out a new digital TV service, the difference being that it doesn't use cable or a satellite. They stream the DigitalTV signals on currently idle frequencies to standard UHF/VHF antennas. The service includes 35 channels, including local stations as well as many of the basic cable (Disney, Discovery, ESPN, TLC, FOOD...) with more to come. $19.95/mo is the price point for a basic service, though '...customers must buy a $99.95 set-top device to decode the channels.' Initially to be rolled out in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Albuquerque, could USDTV keep prices low and still support local content since they have no cable network to maintain, and no satellites to launch?"

5 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Encrypted? by jrockway · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is this encrypted like satellite TV? Or can I buy a receiver and not pay for the signal? Are these people going to sue all purchasers of smart card IO devices?

    --
    My other car is first.
  2. Nothing new... by elleomea · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The UK have has a DigitalTV service that broadcasts to standard antenni for a little while now. FreeView

  3. Already in service in .NL by Benm78 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Funny that this seems to be breaking news, as a very similar service named Digitenne has been in operation for a year or so in the Netherlands.

    Indeed, the service is a little cheaper than the common cable system, but brings about one major disadvantage: You will need a receiver and subscription for every receiver you own. So if you have 2 TV's and a VCR, you need 3 subscriptions, and this setup is more expensive than cable plus an amplifier and indoor coax cabling.

    However, the service can be used on the road, allowing good quality TV reception in vehicles and on, for example, campsites.

  4. Possibly illegal? by PunkKangaroo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A friend of mine found out about this awhile back and has been documenting his research into the matter. You can read what he has found here. Basically: "While surfing the web I have found out that USDTV is renting space for 3 of its 11 channels from KULC. While I am no lawyer I think that this is illegal as KULC is licenesed as an educational station."

  5. Poor summary, but good idea by Obfuscant · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The summary here is extremely poor.

    The service is not using "idle frequencies", it is using active frequencies but spare bandwidth. I.e., it is including its scrambled signal in with the standard digital broadcast signal of one or more other stations.

    If these stations have the spare bandwidth, this is a win/win for both the station and USDTV, since they get the cost of a tower and transmitter underwritten by USDTV, and USDTV gets a medium they don't have to worry about licenses for.

    This will be a benefit to those areas where the local stations are hard-pressed to come up with the funds to go digital (even though they must). It will also be a big help in areas currently served by translators, since those are sometimes operated by small groups within the community they serve. They can still translate, and sell the excess space to USDTV, who pays for the hardware.