Cable Forum - View Single Post - FM Hook-up

Okonski · 07-10-2005, 12:58

This 'dump' analogue campaign by NTL is nonsensical. I had an NTL staffer tell me in all seriousness they would be required 'by law' to cease analogue transmissions at a date specified by the government. She couldn't get her head round the fact that any proposed digital switchover only concerned terrestrial transmissions, not what was squirted down a cable. NTL as the UK's only cable company will be in a great position to capitalise on this, as I mentioned previously.

With regard to FM - facilitating DAB would be pointless as the number of customers taking advantage of it would be minimal in the short term, and even less in the future as a 'Son of DAB' is brought to market, making the current kit obsolete. The same would hold true for NTL providing a Freeview feed for those not wanting an STB. I understand many councils gave cable companies the right of wayleaves so that aerials, whether VHF or UHF, could be dispensed with. Analogue STBs are clearly on the way out, and replacing them with digital will have no impact on the aerial situation.

Remove FM though, and you've a different situation. Many folk will not want their TV on all day just to listen to radio, so there may be a requirement to keep the FM service active, whether they want to or not. It would be interesting to find out!

07-10-2005, 12:58	#33
Okonski Inactive Join Date: Feb 2005 Services: VM BB & TiVo Posts: 130	Re: FM Hook-up This 'dump' analogue campaign by NTL is nonsensical. I had an NTL staffer tell me in all seriousness they would be required 'by law' to cease analogue transmissions at a date specified by the government. She couldn't get her head round the fact that any proposed digital switchover only concerned terrestrial transmissions, not what was squirted down a cable. NTL as the UK's only cable company will be in a great position to capitalise on this, as I mentioned previously. With regard to FM - facilitating DAB would be pointless as the number of customers taking advantage of it would be minimal in the short term, and even less in the future as a 'Son of DAB' is brought to market, making the current kit obsolete. The same would hold true for NTL providing a Freeview feed for those not wanting an STB. I understand many councils gave cable companies the right of wayleaves so that aerials, whether VHF or UHF, could be dispensed with. Analogue STBs are clearly on the way out, and replacing them with digital will have no impact on the aerial situation. Remove FM though, and you've a different situation. Many folk will not want their TV on all day just to listen to radio, so there may be a requirement to keep the FM service active, whether they want to or not. It would be interesting to find out!