A new report suggests that cable providers have more than enough capacity currently to compete with telco fiber systems. The report states that reclaiming analog TV spectrum, splitting fiber nodes, and most importantly by employing switched broadcast video (SBV) techniques, MSOs will have enough headroom for broadband services, HDTV and VOD. As we've noted Time Warner Cable has improved their capacity by 50% in switched digital video trials.
From the report:
"Each analog channel consumes 6 MHz of capacity (or roughly 1/125th of the total capacity of an upgraded cable plant). Re-claiming that channel slot frees up enough capacity to launch 2½ more channels in HDTV (each of which consumes about 2.4 MHz), or ten more digital channels (each of which consumes about 0.6 MHz), another ten QAMs, each capable of delivering an additional VOD stream, or another doubling of broadband [Internet] capacity (which today operates out of a single 6 MHz channel slot)."
This optimistic report is in contrast to a CableLabs report from August that suggested another round of multi-billion dollar upgrades might be in order, and that MSOs might be better off just running fiber to the home. There was also a report earlier this month that stated HD demand would put the cable industry's back against the wall.
So, in short. Shut off the analog, compress those channels and make them digital (they'll look better on the tv), witht the recent upgrades to the cable systems that I know of, there is DEFINATLY enough room to add at least 5HD channels and give the premium Internet teir the 30mb download to compete with fiber.
While I'm making this rant. If there is anyone from the cable industry that cares, listen up:
There is no doubt that enventually most of the companys will due away with in house techs. That leaves the contractors, and the pressure is on those companys to step up and be certified to instal and troubleshoot cable. And the big companys are all also looking to take care of "dead-weight" meaning that they will make it difficult for those that have been in the business for a long time (ie making the money)to stay at their current jobs. Now in knowing that and the information above the trend seems to be going the way of the Movie Studios and Proffesional sports. Mine, mine, mine, more money, more money.
So cable companys listen up, you ALL have fiber on the main feeder lines, there is plenty of room for everything. Drop the analog and move it to the digital realm compressed. That will make it look better to those WITH and without new HD televisions. I (we) realize that there are stations that must be on the lineup according to state and federal regulations. An example would be to take the local broadcast channels and those "must have" channels on the basic cable ready tier. At least you've filled the regulation requirment AND gave a very good launch point for customers to upgrade their service. But please, offer up some channels that people actually want! Does anyone really watch G4 anymore? How about Golf channel. Why is the golf channel on my digital basic package but channels that broadcast in higher quility are still trapped on the analog portion! (SciFi, Spike, etc) Speaking of useless channels on Digital...what is AZN Television and why to I have it!? So now that you have a the analog channels looking better, THEN you repackage the tiers in digital to reflect what people want. For instance, work the packages by the agr demographic that their looking to reach. Oh, and get some real HD channels. With all the room that's gained add some other FULL TIME HD channels. Just because Jay Leno and Conan broadcast in HD doesn't mean that everything else is in HD. Kinda a waste dontcha think?
As for the data portion. Yes, that will be more money but not even a portion of what your engineers are telling their bosses. Most expensive part will be adding to the capacity of the nodes. Basic data teir should be 768 up and down. For the people that want to just get email and a little surfing. 5mb tier for those that want to do some gaming and downloading. 10mb (with 5mb up) for proffesional. And finally Ultra, which would be 30mb. Also try to offer some sort of guarantee for the Pro and ultra teir. These people will surely be running little websites and FTP servers. DON'T try to push them to the Business service. That is more than most people will need.
And please start treating your employees like humans. Those employee surveys are crap. Here in the Northeast in my Ten years I have personally watched manangement go through these for each group and pick out handwriting that they reconized OR they thumb through a particular page throwing out the undesirable answers. And my personal favorite, management taking the survey for those that didn't turn them in or woeren't in that day. I mean have you ever really LOOKED at the results. If you think the food at the cafeteria sucks, and you never see anyone buying food there, then how the hell did employees vote that it is great!?
I am only trying to help. I've been working in the telecom industry for over 10 years. I've moved up the coporate latter and was ashamed at what I saw the higher up I went. It's a true shame when the people that make decisions have no idea what's going on. To make my final point. Managers, CEO's, CFO's, when the state declares the weather, and they state that you should bring your animals in, and most things are closed, why is it that the only utility company out there is the cable company. Would you want your husband, wife, son, or daughter climbing 18feet into the air with severe wind and snow with gusts to 20mph. Better yet would YOU climb. When I was in the field, I'd have customers suprised that I showed up and then told me that they will reschedule because they didn't want to be responsible if the cable guy gets hurt. Yet my company doesn't care. How much is your life worth when you work for the cable company? About as much as one install of all three services is how much. That needs to change.
That is all for now. Tents down, shows over
Fenix
