Television stations do not have 5 ‘channels.’ They have one 6 MHz channel, which is currently used with a modulation scheme called ATSC that delivers 19.4 Mbps (Megabits per second) of data. That data can be split up any way the television station wishes; as a single High Definition channel, as one slightly lower quality HD channel and one or more standard definition channels, or a bunch of standard definition channels.
The problem in delivering wireless internet service using this ATSC data stream is twofold:
First of all, the television station only has a single 19.4 Mbps data stream that would have to be shared by all of the users simultaneously. That’s not a lot of data if you get 20 people each trying to stream a different movie from Hulu at the same time, let alone 20,000 subscribers.
Secondly, there is currently no back channel, or any way for your computer or other device to talk back to the television station to request a web page, upload photos, etc. That backchannel would have to be over some other system, either a dial-up telephone line or a wireless cell phone service of some sort.
So, no, it isn’t going to happen.
Now, there is a possiblility of a new company purchasing the 6 MHz chunk of bandwidth from the television company, and designing a new service entirely. That is not only possible, it is very likely in the not too distant future.
As Yo-Yo pointed out, broadcasters transmit and do not receive any signal.
“Secondly, there is currently no back channel, or any way for your computer or other device to talk back to the television station to request a web page, upload photos, etc. That backchannel would have to be over some other system, either a dial-up telephone line or a wireless cell phone service of some sort.”
Yes, I was aware of the lack of back channel but wanted to deal first with the question of whether they could -send- unique/separate data to large numbers of people.
Ideas for sending back info in and of itself can make for interesting contemplation and sharing as a group.