'Cable Networks' usually refers to the TV channels that are usually only available over cable TV systems, or the new 'Live TV' streaming services like YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV, etc. The Fox News channel, the Food Network channel, and the different ESPN channels are a few examples of these channels you'd find on cable TV or live TV streaming services. Because people are cutting the cord and dropping cable TV, some of the parent networks of some of channels are bundling their channels and making them available via the internet as a package. A couple of examples of these subscriptions services would be Max, Peacock, and Paramount+.shawn_75 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:19 pm It seems broadcasters want to play like cable networks. So what's the difference between a cable network and a broadcast network? Is there some advantage to being a broadcaster? I know they have some legal obligations such as EAS, E/I requirements, etc. that I'm sure they'd rather not have to deal with, but what edge does broadcasting give them?
This is information I'd like to have for an FCC complaint.
OTA broadcast TV is supposed to be free. Your local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CW channels broadcast their content over the 'free' and 'public' airwaves that the American citizens are supposed to own. During the day, most of the programming is local, especially the news, and in the evening, it is the program feeds from their affiliated network. With the use of some type of TV antenna that is connected to your TV, your TV should be able to receive the OTA TV broadcast in your are. This is supposed to be free to watch, and is not supposed to have any restrictions. The FCC is supposed to control the 'public' airwaves, but based on the fact that local broadcasters are encrypting their ATSC 3.0 signal, many think the FCC isn't doing their job.
Most Cable TV and live TV streaming services will also deliver some or all of your local channels, but they have to pay a 'retransmission fee' to the stations to do so. When you add this fee to the fees some of the other channels fees the services have to pay for channels like Fox News, the Food Network, and all the different ESPN channels, and for channels people don't really want, it gets expensive.
A lot of consumers are cutting the cord and signing up for a couple of the streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Max, Peacock, or Paramount+, and installing a gateway device like the HDHR or Tab*o so they can watch and record free OTA broadcast TV. Currently, with the current ATSC 1.0 broadcast signal, all of the gateway devices allow the user to watch and record OTA broadcast TV. One of the reasons for this thread is that these same OTA broadcasters who provide their content unencrypted over the ATSA 1.0 signal, are transmitting the same content over the ATSC 3.0 signal in an encrypted format that none of the current gateway devices can decrypt. That technically isn't a problem today, but if the FCC doesn't make the broadcasters transmit an unencrypted signal and the gateway manufactures aren't able to build a reasonably priced gateway device that can, when the FCC forces the shutdown of the ATSC 1.0 signals (currently scheduled for some time in 2027), some people will lose access to 'free' OTA TV unless they buy a new 'NEXTGEN TV'. More importantly they could lose the ability to record OTA TV, and watch it like the do today.
If you are a cord cutter and want to continue to be able to watch and record OTA TV like you do today, you need to contact your members in Congress and tell them that the FCC isn't doing their job and are letting the big TV networks control the 'public' airwaves instead of protecting the 'public' airwaves that is in the best interest of the consumer & taxpayer. Go out to the FCC (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express) and file a comment. Just fill in the 'Proceeding(s):' box with 16-142, then the rest of the boxes with your information, and leave a comment letting them know that allowing the TV networks to 'encrypt' their content and distribute it over the 'public' airways is wrong and an abuse of the privilege to use our 'public' airways.