Sky upgrades to high definition

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lchiu7

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#95152 14-Nov-2007 16:05

sbiddle:
BrettFoss:
I understand the main driver to push HD is to protect copyright. The likes of Paramount and Universal don't want us recording and burning to disc their movies. The HD capability allows for encryption technology that stops you recording Sky Movies or Box Office. Most NZer's struggle to justify the cost of Sky subscription let alone getting forced into $ki's of expence for HDMI capable box. Sky would commit corporate suicide!

Why? You don't pay for your box or ever own so customer won't have to pay to upgrade.

Virtually nobody around the world is enabling the HDCP flag anyway, it will be very interesting to see if Sky (and Freeview with their DVB-T HD broadcasts) do go down this track.

Certainly not in the US anyway where there is such a significant base of HDTV's without HDMI and the fact that satellite and cable dominant in terms of TV access, the consumer backlash would be huge. Not sure about here though. We don't seem to be such strong consumer advocates. If Sky say implemented HDCP I wonder how much fuss would it stir up?

Larry

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cyril7

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#95155 14-Nov-2007 16:26

Just to repeat, Sky and FreeView will implement HDCP over HDMI from day one, so if you want to use the HDMI port on your new HD display makesure it supports HDCP.

What is still open to question is will they hit the ICT flag, this will limit the analog component outputs to SD if turned on. Currently worldwide no broadcasters have turned the ICT flag on, hence HD material can be viewed in full 1080i or 720p whatever over the analog component ports, I presume for the next while (2012 is rumoured) that Sky and Freeview will follow suit, this will be the time when the copyright holders of the material say they want the flag inforced, todate it has been left off due to the large number of non HDCP capable HDMI/DVI displays out there, and naturally the vast number of early HD displays that only had analog component for HD.

Cyril

Spong

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#95158 14-Nov-2007 16:34

That's a very clear explanation Cyril. Do you know whether there are any issues if you wish to distribute the HDMI out from say a SKY HD box to multiple HDMI equipped TV's? Are there any distribution amps that can handle the necessary HDCP signals to keep everyone happy?

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

sbiddle

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#95171 14-Nov-2007 17:00

lchiu7:
sbiddle:
BrettFoss:
I understand the main driver to push HD is to protect copyright. The likes of Paramount and Universal don't want us recording and burning to disc their movies. The HD capability allows for encryption technology that stops you recording Sky Movies or Box Office. Most NZer's struggle to justify the cost of Sky subscription let alone getting forced into $ki's of expence for HDMI capable box. Sky would commit corporate suicide!

Why? You don't pay for your box or ever own so customer won't have to pay to upgrade.

Virtually nobody around the world is enabling the HDCP flag anyway, it will be very interesting to see if Sky (and Freeview with their DVB-T HD broadcasts) do go down this track.

Certainly not in the US anyway where there is such a significant base of HDTV's without HDMI and the fact that satellite and cable dominant in terms of TV access, the consumer backlash would be huge. Not sure about here though. We don't seem to be such strong consumer advocates. If Sky say implemented HDCP I wonder how much fuss would it stir up?

Larry

Oops I meant to say virtually nobody is implimenting the ICT flag not HDCP. As Cyril7 pointed out most that are using HDMI are using HDCP but are still allowing HD over component which would be stopped once the ICT is enabled.

cyril7

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#95172 14-Nov-2007 17:09

Simon, I kinday guessed you new but yeah its easy to casulize the technolog.

Spong, there are splitters like this that do just as you are asking, not to sure if the HDCP handshake handles multiple clients or if just one is selected to handshake and the others there for the ride, purhaps someone else can chime in on that, but yes you can split the HDMI signal, and yes it does work with HDCP.

Cyril

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