More Digital Cable Devices Could Hit the Market If FCC Grants TiVo a Broad Analog Tuner Waiver
More video device manufacturers could introduce retail digital cable-ready products if the FCC crafts a broad waiver in response to TiVo’s petition to be let out of requirements to include an analog tuner in such devices, said comments filed in response to TiVo’s request. TiVo sought the waiver so it can sell a version of its TiVo Premiere Elite box at retail in addition to leasing it through MVPDs (CD June 9 p12).
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Transparent Video Systems said it wants to sell a hybrid IPTV/pay-TV and broadcast set-top box at retail and would benefit from a waiver similar to the one sought by TiVo. “Any requirements to pair an analog tuner with the digital tuner is not commercially feasible, as the device would have to be much larger, consume more power and be significantly more expensive,” TVS said in its comments. It asked that the commission adopt a waiver “extended to all similar products -- products that are primarily connected to cable networks."
Nagravision also supports a waiver that would cover other devices, it said. “Such a broader grant will enable and promote competition,” Nagravision said. As the rules stand, pay-TV operators may lease devices with no analog tuner, but retailers can’t sell them, Nagravision said. That puts retail devices at a competitive disadvantage, it said. “The rules, therefore, are no longer consistent with the policies underlying them,” it said.
It’s time to loosen “strict technical adherence to rules crafted in 2003,” but not without some conditions, the NCTA said. For one, the FCC’s waiver order should “clarify that a waiver and the availability of limited functionality digital-only devices at retail does not create any requirement or expectation for cable operators who carry analog service to change their networks, services or prices to meet the digital-only receiver constraints of this device,” NCTA said. Furthermore, TiVo should have to tell customers at the point of sale that the devices may not be able to tune to all channels, because some cable systems still provide some programming only in an analog format, NCTA said. That point-of-sale message should also make it clear that if the customer moves to another pay-TV provider with analog channels, “the device would no longer tune all one-way channels,” NCTA said.
CEA supported TiVo’s request. “The rules requiring devices marketed as digital cable ready (DCR) to contain analog tuners is hindering availability of innovative new navigation devices,” CEA said. “As more cable operators and subscribers move to all-digital systems, the requirement that all retail devices contain an analog tuner -- which is costly in price, size and power consumption -- increasingly places a disproportionate burden on retail devices,” it said.