Encryption

[DrSmith]

Until the a3sa can function as an independent entity the broadcasters are going to continue their messing-up the prospects of rolling out nextgen television aka atsc 3.0.

We gotta stop seeing A3SA as a separate org. It's just a smoke-screen. The A3SA only exists so that pedantic a**holes can say "DRM is not part of ATSC 3.0" And then attempt to reset the blame and avoid the issues. It's all one big ball of crap perpetrated by the (dying) OTA broadcasters to get commercials back to viability.

[Cabal]

Until the a3sa can function as an independent entity the broadcasters are going to continue their messing-up the prospects of rolling out nextgen television aka atsc 3.0.

We gotta stop seeing A3SA as a separate org. It's just a smoke-screen. The A3SA only exists so that pedantic a**holes can say "DRM is not part of ATSC 3.0" And then attempt to reset the blame and avoid the issues. It's all one big ball of crap perpetrated by the (dying) OTA broadcasters to get commercials back to viability.

The quoted post makes no sense, the A3SA = the broadcasters. There will never be an A3SA independent of the broadcasters. There's nothing sneaky about it, it's right on their web site:

https://a3sa.com/about-a3sa/

[jdrch]

Until the a3sa can function as an independent entity the broadcasters are going to continue their messing-up the prospects of rolling out nextgen television aka atsc 3.0.

We gotta stop seeing A3SA as a separate org. It's just a smoke-screen. The A3SA only exists so that pedantic a**holes can say "DRM is not part of ATSC 3.0" And then attempt to reset the blame and avoid the issues. It's all one big ball of crap perpetrated by the (dying) OTA broadcasters to get commercials back to viability.

The quoted post makes no sense, the A3SA = the broadcasters. There will never be an A3SA independent of the broadcasters. There's nothing sneaky about it, it's right on their web site:

https://a3sa.com/about-a3sa/

I think they meant we, the forum users, have to make that distinction.

[nblair5]

I scrolled back and it has been 4 months since the last time someone politely asked for an update and was admonished for being high maintenance. I saw a firmware update drop this week but it doesn't look like it has anything related. Has SD just moved on?

[Freekick123]

I scrolled back and it has been 4 months since the last time someone politely asked for an update and was admonished for being high maintenance. I saw a firmware update drop this week but it doesn't look like it has anything related. Has SD just moved on?

As I understand how this works, the SD hardware only needs to tune to the ATSC 3.0 station. The HD Homerun is ATSC 3.0 certified to do this. It would then pass the stream on to a decoder app. The actual decription would happen in the HDHomerun app and not the SD hardware. Therefore firmware updates to the HDHomerun devices won't fix DRM. Also the streaming hardware that holds the app has to work with Widevine. Not all the streaming devices support Widevine. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

[iTurbo6]

Fox and ABC removed DRM in Miami. Step in the right direction.

[kyl416]

Fox and ABC removed DRM in Miami. Step in the right direction.

That's only because WPLG's RF 10 signal is switching back to ATSC 1.0 on 7/28, as their ATSC 1.0 host WSVN can't continue to carry WPLG's 1 HD and 2 SD channels on their RF 9 signal when 7.2 goes HD for the new ABC Miami and 365BLK moves to a new 7.4.

[iTurbo6]

well that answers WPLG, but WSVN broadcasts Fox and that removed DRM.

[joblo]

Non-profit public interest group Public Knowledge said the following in an FCC joint EX PARTE filing yesterday:

Public Knowledge asserted that, in addition to harming user rights, the digital rights management (DRM) and certification process creates the ability to gatekeep competition and prevent device makers from including features users might want. The A3SA certification model operates without meaningful external oversight, with licensing terms that are confidential and decision-making processes that are opaque. This private entity, controlled by incumbent broadcasters, would control what devices can use the public airwaves. Startups, open-source projects, and academic developers lack the resources to navigate the A3SA certification process, and many will simply be locked out of the ATSC 3.0 ecosystem. Even large manufacturers may choose to avoid the standard altogether, fearing the costs and restrictions associated with DRM compliance, leaving consumers with fewer choices, higher prices, and less control over how they access public broadcasts.

There are similar concerns with respect to patent fees associated with the ATSC 3.0 standard. Standard-essential patent (SEP) abuse is an ongoing issue, especially when patents are held by entities with conflicts of interest. Excessive fees or hold-ups should not be allowed to limit competition, and the FCC must consider these issues when reviewing the NAB Petition.

Public Knowledge also raised legal issues related to the American Library case. In American Library Association v. FCC, 406 F.3d 689 (D.C. Cir. 2005), the court held that the FCC lacked authority to impose requirements on consumer electronics, stating that the agency's general jurisdictional grant does not encompass regulation of consumer electronics products post-transmission. The proposed mandatory transition to ATSC 3.0 would require consumer devices to incorporate specific technologies to access encrypted broadcast content, effectively dictating the design and capabilities of televisions and related devices, which mirrors the broadcast flag regime invalidated by the DC Circuit.

Finally, Public Knowledge noted the importance of accessibility and other public interest requirements and argued that the cost of any transition should be borne by the broadcast industry that stands to benefit from it.

Previous filings in the same docket by Public Knowledge:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search- ... 1750416733
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search- ... 2199526072

[kyl416]

well that answers WPLG, but WSVN broadcasts Fox and that removed DRM.

Neither station will be in ATSC 3.0 after 7/28

[Phoenixfury]

well that answers WPLG, but WSVN broadcasts Fox and that removed DRM.

Neither station will be in ATSC 3.0 after 7/28

Anyone hear that flushing sound? I think that's the sound of ATSC 3 (Nextgen TV going down the toilet... I wonder when the broadcasters will realize pushing encryption was a huge mistake. They are the ones to blame for this standard failing.

[nickk]

Anyone hear that flushing sound? I think that's the sound of ATSC 3 (Nextgen TV going down the toilet... I wonder when the broadcasters will realize pushing encryption was a huge mistake. They are the ones to blame for thos standard failing.

It is the networks that are forcing DRM on the stations, specially ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and Telemundo (the 5 networks that make up A3SA).

[Phoenixfury]

Anyone hear that flushing sound? I think that's the sound of ATSC 3 (Nextgen TV going down the toilet... I wonder when the broadcasters will realize pushing encryption was a huge mistake. They are the ones to blame for thos standard failing.

It is the networks that are forcing DRM on the stations, specially ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and Telemundo (the 5 networks that make up A3SA).

I stand corrected. Unfortunately my sentiment hadn't changed. When broadcasters start dropping the new standard, you know its in trouble. Whose going to embrace a new standard they can't even watch, or have to shell out a ton of money for? ATSC 3 could have been great, but no thanks to the networks it failed to lauch. I certainly wouldn't call just rebroadcasting the same content as their 1.0 channels a success.

Although I now see ATSC 3 as a failure, I would still recommend HDHR Flex 4K's to anyone. Still the best gateway tuners on the market!

[gore]

well that answers WPLG, but WSVN broadcasts Fox and that removed DRM.

Neither station will be in ATSC 3.0 after 7/28

Anyone hear that flushing sound? I think that's the sound of ATSC 3 (Nextgen TV going down the toilet... I wonder when the broadcasters will realize pushing encryption was a huge mistake. They are the ones to blame for this standard failing.

It costs a lot of money for these stations to broadcast a signal that no one will ever get to see. All across the country, stations are sending out these useless ATSC 3.0 signals and no one is watching them, so they are not receiving any revenue from them, instead just spending money on power to transmit those un-watchable signals. It is poetic justice in action.

[mbirk1951]

Just wondering if I have a ATSC 3.0 tuner in my TV which I know works with DRM and SD could make an ATSC 3.0 encrypted file, could that file be input to a RF Modulator that was connected to the RF input of my TV? I am guessing it would need to use ATSC 3.0 compliant RF modulation. Not sure if the encrypted file is saved in way that can be remodulated for use.