HDTV's copy-protection leaves content stuck in the box
Posted on 18/10/04 00:20 by Seán Byrne                             
HDTV's copy-protection leaves content stuck in the box

With the FCC enforcement on the broadcast flag for digital TV content, it is likely that HDTV programming is going to be mainly limited to recording only within a set-top box PVR.  Even Microsoft is facing problems in implementing HDTV into its Windows XP Media Center Edition due to the very strict limitations imposed. 

 

At the moment, unprotected HD broadcasts such as terrestrial broadcasts do not pose much of a problem, however as broadcasters gradually start to protect their content, any HDTV equipment that relies on unprotected broadcasts will become obsolete.  Even set top boxes that support Firewire hook-up for content transfer to a PC must not allow flagged content to be transferred.  A "Cable Card" (not commercially released yet) aims to over come this by performing the same operation of a set top box while imposing the FCC's Plug and play restrictions.  This card would then plug into suitable recording equipment for receiving HDTV cable. 

 

Finally even with unprotected HDTV content, getting the content transferred to removable storage such as recordable DVD is another issue.  A typical HD broadcast uses 15 to 20Mbps, requiring between 6.75GB and 9GB per hour's worth of recording.  As a result, a dual-layer DVD would only hold up to an hours worth of HDTV unless it is re-encoded into a more efficient codec such as MPEG4.  GristyMcFisty submitted the following news via our  news submit :

Copyright uncertainty is limiting HD recording-gear options, leaving cable networks' HD content stuck in the set-top box, for now

With the cost of high-definition TV sets continuing to drop and HD programming's availability rising, it's more than a little disappointing that sophisticated gear such the Microsoft Media Center PC has such limited ability to handle HDTV. When equipped with a digital tuner, Media Center can show and record HD programming, but only from local broadcast stations -- no ESPN, no HDNet, no HBO.

The difficulty is with the unsettled state of copy protection for HD programming rather than any technical issue. Until now, HD content has been sent out unprotected over cable and satellite systems. With some new Federal Communications Commission rules in place and equipment capable of recording HD video hitting the market, content owners are starting to apply protection -- but the hardware and software needed to allow video recorders to comply with the protection schemes aren't ready.

Joe Belfiore, general manager of Microsoft's eHome group, says uncertainty about just how to handle content protection forced the decision to limit HD capabilities in the new version of Windows XP Media Center Edition announced Oct. 12. He says two basic ways exist to get HD content from cable into the Media Center PC: "One was for us, in effect, to become the cable set-top box."

Read the full article here.

If many broadcasters do decide to protect their programming, this may pose a problem with the upcoming HD optical disc formats even if one succeeds in becoming the main standard.  At the moment, the only limitation current DVD recorders enforce is not being able to record Macrovision protected content.  Then again, generally only premium pay-per-view content and DVDs use this protection.  However, with the broadcast flag, even programmes as basic as soaps, comedies and game shows may use the flag to limit recording capabilities, thus blocking any optical drives that are broadcast flag compliant.

Feel free to discuss about HDTV and HD equipment on our Satellite, HD-TV, Blu-ray and HD-DVD Forum.

Source: BusinessWeek Online - Technology

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