Encryption

[Cabal]

Sometimes I feel SD would be far better off releasing a client device (and/or STB) and do away with the waiting

I'm not so certain that is an immediate path to success. I doubt the A3SA is excited about shuffling keys around between devices on the same network.

[SoNic67]

I think a3sa will be killed by greed and shortsightedness.
People won't be able to watch those channels, and that's that. No ad revenue for station, they will turn DRM off.
In my market this is the only ATSC 3.0 station with DRM, and of course they have it on ATSC 1.0 too...

[techpro2004]

So encrypted channels don't work on Windows 11... I found that surprising, but that's the situation.

Correct. A3SA mandates the use of Widevine DRM which Microsoft does not support in apps. Widevine for browsers on Windows doesn't work with HEVC video or AC4 audio.

So why not release a transcoding atsc 3.0 drm hdhomerun or add transcoding capabilities to the dvr.

[Cabal]

Correct. A3SA mandates the use of Widevine DRM which Microsoft does not support in apps. Widevine for browsers on Windows doesn't work with HEVC video or AC4 audio.

So why not release a transcoding atsc 3.0 drm hdhomerun or add transcoding capabilities to the dvr.

I believe the people holding the decryption keys have mandated that decryption be done securely on the player (to prevent another Locast).

[iTurbo6]

Subscribing here for updates.

I just ordered a HDHomeRun 4K and returning my *********.

I’m in South Florida and all the main local channels are drm encrypted. They all are a little delayed and look like the 1.0 channels with some kind of filter on them.

Decided we’d rather use Apple TV 4K and the Channels app to watch on all our tvs. Hoping this gets solved this year.

[KingdomeCome]

Decided we’d rather use Apple TV 4K and the Channels app to watch on all our tvs. Hoping this gets solved this year.

You might wanna know that there is currently no path to get DRM working with the HD Homerun on the Apple platform. It's years away if it ever happens.

The best hope is the Android platform, and even that has no ETA whatsoever.

[iTurbo6]

Yeah I get that. Hoping that DRM gets dropped on my stations out here sooner.
Worst case, if I have to have 3.0 DRM and it's available only on Android, I"ll buy a Shield streamer and use it just for that.

I really like the Channels app a lot. Its great.

[signcarver]

Don't buy a shield for atsc 3 as it doesn't support the ac4 audio and has to use online transcoding.(currently stereo).

[iTurbo6]

my HDHomeRun is now all setup. I have Channels for Apple TV. I can't imagine switching from this setup. All my tv's look great with this. I love that I can match content with it and use picture in picture. I have 0 interest in DVR since we watch for live sports and sometimes live news. Everything else is streaming.

This is easily my favorite tv setup I've had. So glad I switched to HDHR. Picture quality on 1.0 looks great and Apple TV does a far better job than any android box.

[lenlab]

I have a related question or maybe not.

Why can't SD enable the HD Homerun to view DRM channels but suppress any recording for DRM channels until there is a solution to the DRM issue? At least owners of the homerun could view the ATSC 3.0 channels with DRM enabled. I know this is not the ultimate solution everyone wants but could this not be done with software? It would make the HDhomerun far more useful and valuable to current owners. I am not an owner by the way but I might buy one if this was implemented.

[NatHillIV]

I have a related question or maybe not.

Why can't SD enable the HD Homerun to view DRM channels but suppress any recording for DRM channels until there is a solution to the DRM issue? At least owners of the homerun could view the ATSC 3.0 channels with DRM enabled. I know this is not the ultimate solution everyone wants but could this not be done with software? It would make the HDhomerun far more useful and valuable to current owners. I am not an owner by the way but I might buy one if this was implemented.

I would LOVE that. I have 2 HDHomerun 4K tuners. I'm not all that worried about recording. It would be very nice to watch ATSC 3.0 live sports over them. The Colts preseason game last night on Fox59 in Indianapolis (720p not encrypted) featured amazing video.
Not sure how difficult that would be technically, but I think it would be a giant step forward. If I have to buy another TV device to work with the HDHomerun, even without recording capabilities (Roku, Google, Firestick, etc.), it wouln't be that big a deal.

[iTurbo6]

I'd be shocked if it was possible to watch DRM stuff on HDHR with all that is needed is to remove the ability to DVR those channels. If that is possible, it's absolutely insane that it hasn't been implemented already. Many people don't care for DVR. We want live local sports. I don't even use the HDHR app. I bought the Apple TV Channels app.

[Freekick123]

Recording is only half of the DRM dilemma. The other half is to stop streaming from a tuner to an app, ANY app. There are no apps approved, only hardware with an HDMI port.

[danieljlevine]

Also if you look at the first post in this thread, you’ll see what SD believes would be the most likely devices to work when the A3SA provides enough information for SD to implement it. And other options down the road that in theory could work, but would need yet more A3SA work to enable them.

[danieljlevine]

Actually, I may have mischaracterized where SD is with the A3SA. I believe SD has submitted something that “works” with DRM and is awaiting comments or approval. If A3SA provides comments, SD will have to address them and the cycle goes around again. If they approve their approach, then I believe we get DRM capabilities (perhaps just live viewing initially).

I believe A3SA has said they haven’t moved forward on SD (or anyone else’s DRM network tuner architecture because it’s such a small part of the market and they are busy with other NextGenTV stuff.

This is where I believe SD is with the process. I’m not sure if SD can confirm or deny that at this time.