HBO Blocks non-HDCP HDMI Outputs on DirecTV Boxes

[admin]

There had been rumors of clamp-downs on non-HDCP broadcasting of digital content for years, but so far it's been more myth and "we can do this if we want to" than "we're actually doing it". Not anymore. Last week reports came in that some DirecTV subscribers were getting on-screen messages informing them that their non-HDCP outputs were being disabled and they'd have to switch to component video (see the photo, courtesy of theverge.com). What's odd, is that the message only had to do with HBO channels. Why is this even an issue in an age of HDMI-on-everything-including-your-refrigerator? Because early adopters to HDTV - you know, those people who paid thousands of dollars to help fund the low-cost TV production we now enjoy - received sets that pre-dated HDCP. Often, these sets had DVI inputs. It was only after the initial push of digital and HD sets that HDMI with its HDCP copyright protection hit the scene.

Discuss "HBO Blocks non-HDCP HDMI Outputs on DirecTV Boxes" here. Read the article.

 

[agarwalro]

"It's almost like the industry has to periodically remind people why pirating content is so attractive (to some) in the first place and why it is so prevalent.If you pay for content and can't get it in the format you require

...at a price that is not a complete rip off.

The content manufacturers want to keep profits up by reducing access. Supply and demand.

 

[nvmarino]

Someone please remind me why this is news again? Most providers have been requiring HDCP on a number of channels for years. One older Motorola box I have from Comcast won't output anything if the display doesn't support HDCP. My other, newer box outputs some channels but not others (and not the ones you would expect to be blocked - some bizarre channels like comedy central require hdcp but espn does not, for example). If you want additional proof that many providers already require hdcp on a variety of content just have a look at the discussions about the hauppauge colossus hdmi capture card over at avsforum.

On your comment about this being a bigger deal than the analog sunset for blu-ray because it affects existing hardware and they blu-ray analog sunset did not - you might want to have a re-read of your own article on the subject:

"Lest you think that this won't affect existing players, note that*after January 1, 2011, the manufacturers of Blu-ray discs will be able (at their option) to insert an Image Constraint Token into any Blu-ray disc. This is a sort of "digital flag" that will turn off the high-definition component video output in the player (effectively turning it into a low-resoluton 480i/576i output). The goal is to make sure that*all high-definition video will only be made possible through "secure" digital connections like HDMI."

 

[smurphy522]

What an awesome way to award the early adopters who helped HDMI and other digital transfer technology evolve!

 

[GlocksRock]

This was probably the idea of the equipment manufactuerers to force you to buy new gear every few years. In a few more years it will be some other type of restriction that will cause you to have to purchase something else.

 

[westcott]

Just another example of how incompetent those at the top of the industry realy are. Instead of pricing content favorably and making it easy to access,they make it more difficult and charge a premium for the inconvenience.

 

[tomd51]

This was probably the idea of the equipment manufactuerers to force you to buy new gear every few years. In a few more years it will be some other type of restriction that will cause you to have to purchase something else.

"Probably"?? I'd say you could pretty much bet your last nickel on it. That and the fact that the MAFIAA had to have a way of keeping their content from being copied. Of course it was presented under the guise of "simplifying" installation (suuuure, just ask any installer how much this has "simplified" their lives) being able to provide HD video and audio content on a single cable.

Unfortunately it has been so poorly implemented, the standards were such a mess for several years causing handshake, HDCP and other compatibility issues that they couldn't have botched the analog to digital transition any worse than they did. Couple that with the fact that HDCP is so flaky/fussy that all it does is hassle the general consumer with the drop-outs, compatibility and handshake issues instead of it's original intent of restricting the ability to copy content.

It was just a matter of time... -TD

 

[Cruise Missile]

Unfortunately it has been so poorly implemented, the standards were such a mess for several years causing handshake, HDCP and other compatibility issues that they couldn't have botched the analog to digital transition any worse than they did.

Remember when the channels would change as fast as you could turn the knob....

 

[Biggiesized]

Remember when the channels would change as fast as you could turn the knob....

++

However, nowadays access time is regulated by not only HDCP handshake but also keyframe lockon from the MPEG-2/4 GOP.