All Alert Channel not technically feasible and too expensive, according to CCTA

The Canadian Cable Television Association is opposing a proposal by Pelmorex Communications Inc to insert weather warnings on cable signals. In comments filed with the CRTC, the association says it supports the concept of "a cost-effective, technically workable" All Channel Alert (ACA) system. But it notes that many cablecos already carry weather alerts on their community channels. Pelmorex has applied to the commission for an amendment to its licence for The Weather Network/Météo Média to provide the ACA service to broadcast distributors across the country (Public Notice CRTC 2000-71). The CCTA says the ACA service proposed by Pelmorex would require cable licensees to install specialized Pelmorex-designed and -manufactured computer equipment at each head-end in order to insert the alert message as a text crawl on every analog channel. Pelmorex says its custom equipment requires each analog channel to be input as a baseband signal with discrete audio and video components. "Although some of the channels within a cable head-end may utilize this signal format, many do not," the CCTA brief says. "This non-compatible technical format would pose a significant technical and financial problem for many cable systems in implementing the Pelmorex proposal." "In order to maintain cost competitiveness, as well as improve picture and audio quality across systems, many cable companies have configured their networks as regional distribution systems with a primary head-end that distributes programming signals in non-discrete video and audio technical formats," the CCTA adds. "These technologies integrate the audio and video components of the programming signal together at either a composite baseband video plus integrated 4.5 MHz stereo audio signal, or as a modulated tele-vision IF signal to distribute the signal amongst head-ends. At the head-end the composite video + 4.5 MHz or IF signal is then easily upconverted onto the channel specific to the system. At no point is the signal present as a discrete video/audio signal for use within a custom Pelmorex box," the cable association explains. To install ACA, cablecos with regional network configurations would have to replace most of their regional distribution technology with a completely different system that uses discrete video/audio signals or install equipment to convert IF signals to discrete video/audio baseband signals. The CCTA says individual modulators would have to be installed for every channel at a cost of $1,500 per channel for every head-end. A separate demodulator and modulator would be required for each analog channel including stereo support. The total cost is estimated at $15,000 to $20,000 per channel. Pelmorex has asked the CRTC to approve a $0.13 per month per subscriber pass-through charge in connection with the ACA service. Of this amount, $0.02 would be set aside for a period of 60 months to cover costs incurred by cable operators. According to Pelmorex’s calculations, this amounts to $145 per head-end per month for 60 months or a total amount of $8,700 per head-end. The remaining $0.11 would be used to cover Pelmorex’s costs and provide it with a return on its investment. "On the basis of (the CCTA’s) analysis, it is clear that the Pelmorex proposal would impose significant unrecoverable costs on cable operators while, at the same time, ensuring that Pelmorex recovers all of its costs and has an opportunity to make a profit. Indeed, after the initial 5 year period, if the $0.13 passthrough charge were to remain in place, Pelmorex would receive a significant windfall profit since the initial capital cost of the Pelmorex equipment would be recovered and the $0.02 would cease to be allocated to cable companies," the CCTA says. It recommends that if the CRTC wants a better weather alert system in Canada it should ask all the players to work together to design one.

All Alert Channel not technically feasible and too expensive, according to CCTA

Broadcast | August 17, 2000

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All Alert Channel not technically feasible and too expensive, according to CCTA

Broadcast | August 17, 2000

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