why is HD transmitting gear so expensive?
 

What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive? Are
the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission facilities?
What?

"bearman" wrote in message
...
: What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?
Are
: the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission
facilities?
: What?

All the above.

"bearman" wrote in message
...
: What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?
Are
: the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission
facilities?
: What?

All the above.

bearman wrote:
What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?

Right now it is probably the lack of economies of scale.

Are
the cameras that much more complicated?

Yes, but it isn't just the cameras. Virtually everything in the
production chain has to be either upgraded or replaced.

Is it the transmission facilities?

Only in that a second STL (studio to transmitter link), transmitter and
attenna cost as much as the first one (if you are going full power).
That is to say: a lot of money.

What?

All of the above, plus training the staff, marketing the product and
running two stations simultaneously instead of just one.

Matthew

bearman wrote:
What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?

Right now it is probably the lack of economies of scale.

Are
the cameras that much more complicated?

Yes, but it isn't just the cameras. Virtually everything in the
production chain has to be either upgraded or replaced.

Is it the transmission facilities?

Only in that a second STL (studio to transmitter link), transmitter and
attenna cost as much as the first one (if you are going full power).
That is to say: a lot of money.

What?

All of the above, plus training the staff, marketing the product and
running two stations simultaneously instead of just one.

Matthew

"bearman" wrote in message
...
What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?
Are
the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission
facilities?
What?

Whether it is more expensive or not it is different. Why would a
broadcaster rush to spend money on equipment to replace what he has that
works. There would have to be a large financial benefit to want to do so.
There just isn't yet with HDTV.

Leonard Caillouet

"bearman" wrote in message
...
What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?
Are
the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission
facilities?
What?

Whether it is more expensive or not it is different. Why would a
broadcaster rush to spend money on equipment to replace what he has that
works. There would have to be a large financial benefit to want to do so.
There just isn't yet with HDTV.

Leonard Caillouet

Leonard G. Caillouet wrote:
"bearman" wrote in message
...

What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?

Are

the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission

facilities?

What?


Whether it is more expensive or not it is different. Why would a
broadcaster rush to spend money on equipment to replace what he has that
works. There would have to be a large financial benefit to want to do so.
There just isn't yet with HDTV.


I think you can lose that "yet". Doing DTV is a cost of doing business.
If the station doesn't, they well ultimately lose their license. There
is no ROI for DTV or HDTV. Doing DTV means that you get to stay in business.

Matthew

Leonard G. Caillouet wrote:
"bearman" wrote in message
...

What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?

Are

the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission

facilities?

What?


Whether it is more expensive or not it is different. Why would a
broadcaster rush to spend money on equipment to replace what he has that
works. There would have to be a large financial benefit to want to do so.
There just isn't yet with HDTV.


I think you can lose that "yet". Doing DTV is a cost of doing business.
If the station doesn't, they well ultimately lose their license. There
is no ROI for DTV or HDTV. Doing DTV means that you get to stay in business.

Matthew

What's been surprising to me is the number of HD programs being shown today
that were recorded in HD as early as 1998.

"John Galt" wrote in message
...
"bearman" wrote in message
...
: What is it about high definition equipment that makes it so expensive?
Are
: the cameras that much more complicated? Is it the transmission
facilities?
: What?

All the above.