Some HDTVs May Not Play HD Discs

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,122843,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,122843,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"An industry group is set to rule soon whether millions of HDTV homes will be able to use their existing TV sets or have to buy new sets to watch the movies in high definition. The potential problem is centered on the way customers will connect one of the new HD video disc players to their televisions--or rather, the way that Hollywood wants them to connect, according to representatives of several consumer electronics companies at the Ceatec exhibition here this week."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/component-video-cable-3RCA.jpg" /> <br /><br />Finally! Someone in the industry woke up and realized that the switch to HDCP will leave millions (or tens of millions) of HDTV owners with no way to watch HD content. Now they're negotiating with the movie studios for a grace period to allow people to "upgrade" to HDMI/HDCP compatible TVs. But again, this is really a moot issue, as HDCP has already been circumvented with switches and converters. Why don't they just drop it already?

[Jason Dunn]

What a giant screwup. Even if a single high-def DVD standard is agreed upon, 99.999% of people are not going to go out and buy a new TV set to watch the content. I know I won't - I'm planning on getting at least another 5 years out of my HDTV.

[Chris Gohlke]

Agreed, I've got a 65" HD set on which component are the best inputs. Unless it breaks, there is absolutely no reason I should have to buy another set for many, many years. Having to buy a new one just because they change the input would really bite.

[Jeremy Charette]

The movie studios need to wake up. The cable companies already have. I know Time Warner offers component video out on all of its' HD Cable Boxes, with no encryption or DRM requirements. Why? Don't think for a minute they're going to alienate their customer base. They're going to hook people as hard and fast as they can, then in a couple of years when there's a huge installed base of HD customers, start raising the price (and the profits).

[vission]

I'm sure if this comes true, some really smart person who wants to make money will create a HDMI -> Component converter with the DRM built in.

At least I hope so. :)

Vission

[Felix Torres]

Me, I just wonder how many of the people stoked over the great Sony PS/3 (maybe) featuring a BD-ROM drive realize it too will likely require HDCP? :twisted: