NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] re US: Hollywood can disable TV set features
----- Forwarded message from Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> ----- Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 21:03:17 -0400 From: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> Subject: [IP] re US: Hollywood can disable TV set features Reply-To: dave@farber.net To: ip <ip@v2.listbox.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: Michael Painter <tvhawaii@gmail.com> > Date: May 7, 2010 9:00:49 PM EDT > To: dave@farber.net > Subject: Re: [IP] US: Hollywood can disable TV set features > > >>“This action is an important victory for consumers who will now have > far greater access to see recent high-definition movies in their > homes,” Bob Pisano, president and interim chief executive officer of the > MPAA, said today in a statement.<< > > And I see it as a slap-in-the-face and a middle finger to consumers as > it's de facto instant obsolescence for the multi-millions of dollars > worth of displays, switchers, sources, etc. presently being used for > High Definition viewing and not using HDMI (or without that > capability). > Two years ago I installed a $14,000 16x16 matrix component switcher at a > 'SportsBar"because it was the -only- method available to deliver HD at > the distances required (multiple displays 75-125 ft. from source) and > now that system will only deliver 480p, distribution of which could have > been accomplished for $2000. > > >>The Motion Picture Association of America asked the FCC in 2008 for a > waiver from rules against disabling video outputs so that its members > could send movies over cable and satellite services using “secure and > protected digital outputs,” according to the trade group’s petition at > the agency.<< > > Trouble is, there is -lots- more content delivered by those services > than just Hollywood's movies and now the Set-Top-Box will only output > 480p on analog for that content as well. > > IMO, this is another indication that if you're a big money corporate > lobbyist, you can get the ear of the FCC. Stuff like this, along with > Hundt's admission that he tried to 'sabotage' Broadcast HD, tells me > what the FCC thinks about the "consumer". > > --Michael > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dave Farber > To: ip > Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 12:35 PM > Subject: [IP] US: Hollywood can disable TV set features > > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: Richard Forno <rforno@infowarrior.org> >> Date: May 7, 2010 5:35:41 PM EDT >> To: List Infowarrior <infowarrior@attrition.org> >> Cc: Farber Dave <dave@farber.net> >> Subject: US: Hollywood can disable TV set features >> > >> Film Studios Allowed by U.S. to Use Anti-Piracy Technology on TV >> Equipment >> >> By Todd Shields - May 07, 2010 >> >> http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-07/film-studios-said-to-be-allowed-to-use-anti-piracy-technology-on-tv-sets.html >> >> The film industry can block outputs on home television equipment so >> studios can offer first-run movies while preventing viewers from >> making illicit copies, U.S. regulators said. >> >> Temporarily disabling the outputs will “enable a new business model” >> that wouldn’t develop in the absence of such anti-piracy protection, >> the Federal Communications Commission said today in an order. >> >> Home viewing of recently released movies over cable and satellite >> systems would provide revenue for studios such as Viacom Inc.’s Pa >> ramount Pictures and Sony Corp.’s film division, which have seen DVD >> sales drop as more people get films through Internet, mail-order and >> kiosk rental services. The advocacy group Public Knowledge is among >> opponents who say the plan interferes with viewer choice. >> >> The FCC order “‘will allow the big firms for the first time to take >> control of a consumer’s TV set or set-top box, blocking viewing of a >> TV program or motion picture,” Gigi Sohn, president of Was >> hington-based Public Knowledge, said in a statement. >> >> The Motion Picture Association of America asked the FCC in 2008 for a >> waiver from rules against disabling video outputs so that its members >> could send movies over cable and satellite services using “secure and >> protected digital outputs,” according to the trade group’s petition at >> the agency. >> >> “This action is an important victory for consumers who will now have >> far greater access to see recent high-definition movies in their >> homes,” Bob Pisano, president and interim chief executive officer of >> the MPAA, said today in a statement. “It is a major step forward in >> the development of new business models by the motion picture industry >> to respond to growing consumer demand.” >> >> The Washington-based MPAA represents Paramount Pictures, Sony’s film >> unit, News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox, General Electric Co.’s NBC >> Universal, Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. >> Pictures. >> >> To contact the reporter on this story: Todd Shields in Washington at >> tshields3@bloomberg.net > Archives ------------------------------------------- Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ----- End forwarded message -----