Re: DBS Digital TV + Broadband DSL - BellSouth vs Cablecos
Thread- Upstream(#7764) I posted an article that seemed to say that maybe the twisted pair world's answer to HFC may not be switched video or MMDS, but maybe something of the nature BLS is proposing, DBS. Here's some further details on it. Kind of an interesting combo. DBS can send the digital TV content downstream, and if the sub decides a little interaction is warranted, then they have a DSL connection for that purpose. Why do I still feel that the HFC plant has an advantage over the DSL/DBS combo? Maybe it's because of VOD. DBS can't do VOD, or can it?
But then again, seems most on this thread feel DBS TV quality is far superior to HFC TV. Unfortunately I am starting to believe this. Unfortunate because I would hope the MSOs would not squander an opportunity to deliver high quality TV, instead of simply delivering the marketecture only. -MikeM(From Florida)
HFC- cable company plant
MMDS- former terrestrial wireless TV standard
DSL- high speed Internet access over twisted pair
VOD- video on demand
DBS- direct broadcast satellite TV
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BellSouth Selects Liberate Technologies For DBS Settop Box Software
Aug. 30, 2000-- BellSouth Entertainment [BLS], which is planning an enhanced DBS system to cover southeastern states, has selected Liberate Technologies Inc. [LBRT] to supply consumer software for its DBS system.
BellSouth plans to start the DBS service during the first half of next year, using the GE Americom 6 satellite, according to Jeff Battcher, a spokesman for BellSouth Entertainment.
The satellite is expected to be launched next month, possibly in the third week of the month, and will be positioned at 73 degreesW, according to the spokeswoman for GE American Communications. International Launch Services will use a Proton rocket for the launch, she said.
BellSouth has said its DBS service will cover an area with more than 14 million households in its nine-state, franchised territory. But the company also has said since it first announced its DBS service last May that it could expand the system to adjacent states with a total of some 50 million households.
Liberate said its software will allow BellSouth's subscribers to access an interactive program guide, order pay-per-view programming and use advanced telephone features such as caller ID via their TV sets. The Liberate system consists of server and client software, with the settop box acting as the client.
The software will be installed in the settop boxes supplied for BellSouth's DBS system by Pace Micro Technology plc of the United Kingdom, Battcher said. The Pace settop box also will provide a connection to a DSL line for Internet service, he added.
BellSouth said it selected Liberate based on the flexibility and scalability of its software and the company's commitment to open standards. "The Liberate platform proved to be the best choice to achieve a rapid rollout of interactive TV features for BellSouth Satellite TV customers," said Bob Frame, president of BellSouth Entertainment. |
