New Technology Argues for Loosening Control of Airwaves

Fox News ^ | Saturday, November 23, 2002 | Associated Press

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

NEW YORK

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Fish out of Water]

interesting thanks for the ping

[Tokhtamish]

Does this make Lucent a strong buy ?

[Common Tator]

We are not too many years from the point where over the Air TV makes no sense at all.

With in 5 years cable channels will have over 90 percent of the TV viewers. The over the Air TV stations will be amost a non factor.

What will likely happen is what we know as ABC, NBC, CBS,FOX and PUBIC Tv will become cable channels just like ESPN is a cable channel.

Think of what happens to the local stations when NBC goes to a cable channel. The local station can pay a per viewer fee like the cable does, or quit carrying the network. At one time networks paid the local stations big bucks to carry the Network. That has all but disappeared. In a few years they will have to pay the network big bucks to carry the network programming. Today the network is free and the local station can sell some of the commercials in it. Soon the commericals will have to pay for the programming too.

With hundreds of cable channels only 2 or 3 percent of locals will be watching the local station. No local audience means little if any local spot sales.

I think the Networks will become cable channels and the local stations will go off the air for lack of money to operate. The TV spectrum will no longer be used. It will be reallocated. That is the future.

[Common Tator]

Does this make Lucent a strong buy ?

I would think at least as strong as Enron.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Thought provoking article. If it means that there will be more ways for TV/radio networks, phone companies, Microsoft and Intel to dig into my pocket then I and many others will choose to opt out.

Cable (at least in the Upper Midwest) still only has 50% market penetration. I'm not a sports nut and dumped cable ten years ago. I will not pay money to watch a commercial.

If new technology will ease frequency spectrum congestion then that is great. If it means coprorate America will be siezing more radio frequency spectrum, then I would be against it.

I would really like to see more WiFi and low power FM broadcasting. Bring the average person into low cost communication and broadcasting capabilities free from government and corporate tariffs and invasions of privacy.

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks for the ping. :-)