Data broadcasting-the ultimate push technology?

The emerging standards for digital broadcasting are converging with new media developments geared for personal computers. Data broadcasting uses available digital broadcasting bandwidth and the PCs processing power and storage capacity to solve problems that publishers and broadcasters face trying to meet the demand for new media. However, broadcasting confounds the Internet model-point-to-point requests generated by remote users. Mass delivery of information and entertainment is facilitated by “pushing” content to consumers, rather than waiting for requests. Additionally, as most Internet content is free, publishers are grudgingly investing in a delivery method that has yet to show returns. Data broadcasting systems, with conditional access and IP caching, can “push” content at data rates that facilitate richer and more rewarding media experiences, while insuring content provider´s revenues. This paper concentrates on data broadcasting to PCs, via satellite. However, the same principles apply to delivering data via digital terrestrial, cable, VBI, and digital to set-top boxes