freddyfred89

Suppose DirecTV continues to carry HD signals. You have all of these DirecTV receiver boxes out there with no DVI outputs; how will they conform with the encryption standard?

Will all DirecTV subscribers need to convert to DVI-based receiver boxes? That seems almost absurd. Or will DirecTV be prohibited from carrying HD programming at 1080i?

Otherwise, this seems to be a large hole in the plan to encrypt HD signals. I'm probably missing something, I hope a more informed member can shed some light ...

kevinw

Worst case scenario is that everyone with out DVI inputs on their TV is screwed.
But DVI/HDCP is to prevent unauthorized copying. This means that in order to make copies or watch at a later time you will a recording device with copyright protection ability. It may even mean that you can not watch in HD without the ability to decode the scrambled HD signal.
More than likely OTA availability will continue in HD where as it is possible that PAY channels like HBO/Showtime will be encrypted.

Now ten years down the road all TV's and decoders will have some type of protection scheme. After the Hd TV's of today are no longer of use. Sort of like the way non-digital TV's will be phased out.

MarcG

I think the question has nothing to do with the sets, but the set top boxes (like my RCA DTC-100).

The multitudes of receivers out there do not have DVI. However only a percentage can output 1080i. Maybe those of us who do have a dtv receiver with HD capabilities are SOL.

Who will be able to watch HD DTV? Not all the early adopters, since they already have a non DVI set. The smaller percentage of people late to the HD party and those bleeding edge types buying a second (or third) set will have the right sets. But who will buy a HD set, even if DVI equipped, but not buy some sort of HD source? Well, those that didn't buy a receiver right away will not be the first on the block to have a receiver with DVI outputs. But if they do, they'll be the only ones who can watch DTV in HD.

Great for them, but what about dtv? Having all of this cutting edge expensive technology to serve customers representing .01 percent of their revenue? How long will they keep that going?