The Death of Broadcasting

[JustFred]

Originally Posted by wayner

Assuming that this data is correct than 90% of the US population has access to 100Mbps.

That's a HUGE assumption. The source reports that data "... comes from publicly available plan data from more than 2,000 internet service providers ..." and "If a provider has indicated that they have coverage in a census block, we assume that all of the provider’s national plans are also available in that given block." The way the ISPs determine & report that data has long been a big problem, and has been discussed in other forums such as DSLReports (aka BroadbandReports). As an example, ISPs often report what they **offer** to sell for a rather large geographic area, with no regard to the holes in specific areas and no indication of whether they actually **deliver** the speeds they sell.

I've seen the reality behind this flawed reporting.

Example #1: Even though AT&T reports to the FCC that gigabit service is available to my town, my attempt to actually sign up for gig service via the AT&T website results in "not available". It does let me sign up for 100 Mbps service. Actual installation is a different story, with the installer telling me the best they can deliver is 60 Mbps. Reality: due to distance from the VRAD, the best download was actually less than 40 Mbps. Bye bye, AT&T.

Example #2: At my mom's house in a central Calif, AT&T advertises "up to 45 Mpbs". Signup & actual installation results in "up to 18 Mbps". Reality: Completely unreliable at any speed, due to AT&Ts aging wiring infrastructure and distance to the DSLAM.

Lest someone think that these problems only exist with "ancient" DSL technologies ...

Example #3: In eastern Calif, at a friends house served by Suddenlink/Altice cable, the ISP advertises 1Gbps availability (even though the plant doesn't even support DOCSIS 3.1 !?!). Friend orders 400/40 Mbps service (needs the upload rate for work-from-home). At the time of installation (mid-day), the installer proudly reports that he's able to get almost 250 Mbps down ("that's the fastest I've ever seen that speed tier!"). Reality: in the evening, when lots of folks are at home, downloads are rarely above 180 Mbps. Uploads have never been above 9 Mbps. Reason: the node is extremely over-subscribed, and the ISP has no plans to upgrade the plant.

I could go on. But reality is often different than those nifty maps.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by RonBoyd

Yes, that is an important issue. I am guessing that PlayOn is pedaling as fast as it can to "grow big enough" to be the top dog but is just not there... yet. Which is why I keep promoting it. I would not want it to go away, from lack of support, even with all the faults. I know of no replacement at this time.

I am a huge fan of PlayOn also and want them to survive. Their support has always been very responsive to issues but is stretched thin. They have dropped support for some services in the last few years.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by wayner

Netflix releases entire seasons at once. They just released the third season of Ozark and all ten episodes are posted at the same time.

1. SO you had to wait until they were all released, instead of watching each one as it was done. So that means you have to wait longer to watch any, correct?

2. 10 isn't a season. 22-24 is a season. So not only did you not get a full season, you can't watch the season all at once!

[RonBoyd]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I am a huge fan of PlayOn also and want them to survive. Their support has always been very responsive to issues but is stretched thin. They have dropped support for some services in the last few years.

Yes, they have resolved every single one of my issues over the years extremely quick and in a very professional "personal-touch" manner.

I suspect(ed) the dropped services had more to a break-down in price negotiation... a downside of being a shoe string operation.

[wnjj]

You all are spoiled.

My broadband is 3Mbps down, 1 up. I could raise it to 5/2 but for 50% more cost or 10/3 for more than double. For the difference that would make I haven’t bothered. It’s been the same speed and price for the 17 years I’ve been here.

The only other option is DSL, which wasn’t an option until the past year or so. I’ve heard of too many connection quality issues with the local phone provider so I don’t dare switch.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by wnjj

You all are spoiled.

And proud of it.

[graywolf]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

1. SO you had to wait until they were all released, instead of watching each one as it was done. So that means you have to wait longer to watch any, correct?

2. 10 isn't a season. 22-24 is a season. So not only did you not get a full season, you can't watch the season all at once!

Difference between most network/cable series and streaming service series

A lot of streaming service series are 10 episodes and usually drop all at once

Totally different release models

[xjim1]

I felt cord-cutting was a lead-in whether to include OTA reception in a decision about considering alternatives. I don't think most people who cancel cable/sat pgmg are going to be satisfied with what's just on the air, and perhaps decide it's more convenient to stream everything. Let's face it, as far as content goes, the only thing locally produced is the news. All the rest is network pgmg and available online.

Personally, I think the easier perceived choice is to just stream everything, especially if the user doesn't already have an antenna. And the 'group think' mentality is going to be more familiar with the former. Perception is key.
On the other hand...

Nielsen had something to say about it not too long ago:
https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insigh...-in-us-cities/
A couple read-worthy links in there too.
In summary, they're seeing an increase in OTA households, but most also are using streaming.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by xjim1

In summary, they're seeing an increase in OTA households, but most also are using streaming.

Glad to hear I was 12 years ahead of the trend.

[trk2]

I'm not sure I trust that graphic. I live on an island in a town of less than 5000 residents on the coast of Maine and I have gigabit internet. Greater Portland has 40% of the state's population, and almost all of that has access to greater than 500mbps. Yet that graphic says that only 8% of the state has access to 500mbps...

Edit: Also the abbreviation for Maine is ME, MN is for Minnesota. Graphic is trash.

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by trk2

I'm not sure I trust that graphic. I live on an island in a town of less than 5000 residents on the coast of Maine and I have gigabit internet. Greater Portland has 40% of the state's population, and almost all of that has access to greater than 500mbps. Yet that graphic says that only 8% of the state has access to 500mbps...

Edit: Also the abbreviation for Maine is ME, MN is for Minnesota. Graphic is trash.

What kind of upload speed do you folks get with that gigabit and/or half-gigabit service?

[xjim1]

Originally Posted by trk2

I'm not sure I trust that graphic. I live on an island in a town of less than 5000 residents on the coast of Maine and I have gigabit internet. Greater Portland has 40% of the state's population, and almost all of that has access to greater than 500mbps. Yet that graphic says that only 8% of the state has access to 500mbps...

Edit: Also the abbreviation for Maine is ME, MN is for Minnesota. Graphic is trash.

Yeah, sorry, wayner, but I'd have to agree w/trk2. I took at look at Colorado's stats and even it's own data seems to betray its summary.
https://broadbandnow.com/Colorado

[trk2]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

What kind of upload speed do you folks get with that gigabit and/or half-gigabit service?

I'm supposed to get 100mbps upload but it seems to typically be in the 70mbps range. That has dropped recently with everyone stuck at home but it's never lower than 40mbps. It's easily fast enough that my brother connects to my sage server remotely for his tv service.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

What kind of upload speed do you folks get with that gigabit and/or half-gigabit service?

My Xfinity plan says I have 200mbps down. When I run speed test, it is more like 90mbps. Upload is only 5mbps.

[KryptoNyte]

70 mbps upload is crazy awesome. I get 200 down and 12 up with Spectrum cable.

[wayner]

Aren't most places with fibre symmetric or close to it?

With Bell Canada's Fibre service the UL/DL speeds are:
1.5Gbps/940Mbps
1Gbps/750Mbps
500Mbps/500Mbps
150Mbps/150Mbps
50Mbps/50Mbps

But I am still on cable and have 400/20.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by wayner

Aren't most places with fibre symmetric or close to it?

With Bell Canada's Fibre service the UL/DL speeds are:
1.5Gbps/940Mbps
1Gbps/750Mbps
500Mbps/500Mbps
150Mbps/150Mbps
50Mbps/50Mbps

But I am still on cable and have 400/20.

I’ve got Xfinity fiber to the home. It is asymmetrical. Last I checked it was 150 down 25 up, but they may have bumped it up.

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by KeithAbbott

Wow, 74% of Alaska has access to 500Mbps internet? That seems hard to believe...

Not really when you consider how few actual cities with significant populations exist there and they are all next to the ocean, I just checked and it looks like most of the have their own submarine cables.

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by wayner

Aren't most places with fibre symmetric or close to it?

With Bell Canada's Fibre service the UL/DL speeds are:
1.5Gbps/940Mbps
1Gbps/750Mbps
500Mbps/500Mbps
150Mbps/150Mbps
50Mbps/50Mbps

But I am still on cable and have 400/20.

It wasn't always, but lately it is. I have 75/75 with FiOS and no complaints. It's the lowest tier in my area and I haven't found a reason to upgrade. When I do speed tests I see closer to 80/90.

[wayner]

Here's another data point - the average from the Ookla speed test. The US average is 132/55 and Canada is a bit lower at 121/53. It might be more interesting to see the entire distribution of outcomes as a bunch of folks with gigabit can really skew the average.

My service is advertised as 350/20 but Speedtest are generally around 450/22 and as high as 500/22.