CBC HD Feeds

[cyberham]

I wonder why CBC didn't flip the encryption switch on from Day 1 that the system began working (as SD does). A national distributor such as CBC has considerable power to negotiate with a content provider.

[classicsat]

They want to make sure the distribution system works first. Once that is stable, encryption can be turned on.

[cyberham]

Content providers worrying about the potential problem of American viewers watching programming on CBC that is also available from an American source sounds more theoretical than a problem for real. Any resident in the US with a C-band system already has the capability to receive most (all?) American content appearing on CBC from an American source (i.e. American networks). Other than a relatively small number of Americans watching CBC for the novelty of watching from a foreign country, I can't see large numbers choosing the CBC source if it's available from an American source. And if the programming isn't available from an American source, such as Canadian, French-Canadian or British content, then it's a bonus to the content provider since the audience is expanded without infringing on American broadcasters. I realize this situation is due mainly to paranoid content providers, and not the CBC. Unfortunately, life usually isn't logical.

[Marc]

In the end, the CBC satellite channels are not intended for direct public reception. That is what OTA and cable/satellite are for. I was just giving you guys a heads up that it won't last so you don't spend much time/money on it.

It's not my call, but I know how it will play out. Debating it here won't change that.

[cyberham]

I understand what you say Marc, and we all appreciate your feedback. I know C-band is not intended for the general public, but why not take advantage of a situation (providing additional distribution to the few who have C-band, especially those Canadians in the north or elsewhere who can't receive OTA) if it doesn't hurt anybody or cost any extra? This is a rhetorical question to the wind; no solution will be found here. But logic once released can be hard to erase from peoples' minds. Maybe somebody with decision-making authority is reading these posts...

[DrSat]

Originally Posted by Marc

Honestly one company wanted our ATSC over air signals encrypted (didn't happen of course.)

LOL, l'll have whatever that company's representative was smoking as it must be pretty good medicinal marijuana! Seriously, what's the purpose to broadcast OTA to the public if your signal is encrypted?

[DrSat]

Originally Posted by Marc

The satellite footprint goes well into the USA where other people own the program distribution rights. They want you to watch their channel, not ours. Film distributors became extra cautions with the rollout of HD, fearing piracy. They wanted our video servers to be physically locked in a separate room and encrypted. Honestly one company wanted our ATSC over air signals encrypted (didn't happen of course.)

In the end, the holder of the content sets the rules. Don't comply...no show for you!

I don't know when it will happen, but the system was built with encryption just like SD. It just needs to be switched on.

I understand the rights issue and I have total respect for the CBC. Two of my uncles used to work for the corp but are now retired (one in french radio and another for french tv in Moncton). The issue here is that the CBC & SRC have a mandate to ensure that their services are made available to all Canadians free of charge as they are partially supported by our tax dollars.

With last year's change to DTV and the upcoming closure of all analogue OTA transmitters, I was hoping that the C-Band feeds would remain available for people who don't or soon won't have free access to the CBC anymore. I am aware of Shaw Direct's LTSS program but this is a limited option plus they only provide service in SD with old refurbished receivers. I'm not sure that you are aware but not everyone wants to pay for cable or satellite subscription so a method for receiving the CBC & SRC without going through a BDU or ISP must remain available.

Would it be possible to provide access to the encrypted signals to Canadians via smart cards such as Irdeto? Canadian FTA satellite dealers such as ourselves could sell these for a one time marginal cost (i.e. to cover the manufacturing cost of the cards). Each card would have to be activated with a validated Canadian address before it could be used. Many FTA satellite receivers include an integrated smart card reader which could be used with a card of this type and thus, only authorised Canadians would have access to these CBC & SRC feeds.


Best regards,

Dr. Sat

[Marc]

Originally Posted by DrSat

The issue here is that the CBC & SRC have a mandate to ensure that their service is made available to all Canadians free of charge as they are partially supported by our tax dollars.

I understand the sentiment but I don't think you will find that in the Broadcasting Act.

The old SD network used smart cards the new system from Cisco does not.

[cyberham]

It seems like an overly complex solution for a problem that may not really exist. The number of American viewers along border towns of OTA from Canada probably far exceeds the number of C-band viewers of CBC in the US. Does PBS encrypt its signals? And PBS isn't even publicly supported as CBC is with taxpayer dollars. You would think PBS would be even more paranoid to protect their private supporters' dollars.

[Kraven]

What the heck does the CBC plan to encrypt anyways? Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and reruns of Ricardo? I sincerely doubt it... especially from a crown entity funded by our taxes irrelevent of the rights.

Cheers, K

[LONSat]

Off the top of my head they buy some Hollywood movies, NBC owns the rights to the NHL in the states.

[DrSat]

Originally Posted by cyberham

The number of American viewers along border towns of OTA from Canada probably far exceeds the number of C-band viewers of CBC in the US.

Not only that but virtually all US cable systems near the border carry CBC on their basic package.

[Cham]

I am under the impression that these TPs are to help distribute the CBC signal to remote areas that have lost (or are about to lose) their OTA stations. They can use their backyard dish to receive the signal without the expensive sub to Bell or Shaw. I've been bugging CBC to do that for years. Was hoping for Ku but C-band is just fine.

[classicsat]

My assumption is they are just feeds, possibly for remote BDUs, possibly for affiliate stations, in the case of affilate feeds, to replace the Tandberg SD digital system they implemented a decade or more ago, which replaced analog C-band feeds.

If the intent was to directly serve home viewers, they would find a way to use Ku band, or work with the DTH providers to provide their service free for affected viewers, which they kind of are doing with the LTSS program (see thread in Shaw Direct forum)

[Cham]

Think they cancelled the Shaw program a while back. At least that is what a couple of local "subscribers" ran into a few months ago...
Just posted in the Shaw threads, maybe someone there knows how to get it up and running agn..