On November 24, 2008 at 02:10, Daniel Tonks said...
For Internet-based HD digital downloads to replace BD,
the ISPs are going to have to get on board with high-bandwidth
downloads.
Look at Comcast introducing 250gb per month limits. Just
wait till they get bold and decide to downgrade to the
current Canadian limits (60 to 100gb max). Just how many
BD-quality HD movies do you think you can get into 60gb
per month - not counting all your normal internet usage?
And if they're not BD quality with high-bitrate video
and uncompressed audio... well then I don't want them.
I agree.
My guess is that what the ISPs would really like is to be able to offer HD movies themselves - rent from them and you get high speed to download. Rent elsewhere and then you'll pay $$$ for the required speed. This is where you see the good and the bad of the free market. If the pipeline and the content are both from the same provider they've got you screwed. I'd rather see a government-backed high-speed (really high, high-speed) infrastructure put in place across the country and then the end user can connect to whichever content provider offers the selection and quality that the customer wants to pay for. NetFlix, iTunes, or what-have-you.
