WMP11 strikes again

[ZetaVu]

Ok, possibly old news, but I pulled this up off of Slashdot - http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/05/21/0138255.shtml

MCE is starting to label more HBO content as restricted, and some other channels as well, part of the new wmp11 DRM. SO, they record fine, you just can't watch them (Not a real article, just comments and a link to google searches of people complaining about it, some very recent, some old.

So, also not sure how much is related to standard recording, how much to cablecard, but in the comments the main thrust is the cablecard (only reason to even consider mce) which again, if they are going to restrict the ability to record with cablecard, WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT OF IT? Must be nice, pay over $2000 for a cablcecard computer, only to have it not even function like a dvr stb. Sign me up.

We need an HD from cable/satellite solution and cablecard IS NOT an option.

[Joe The Dude]

I forsee a future I'll call Rent & Rip:
1) Only a few people subscribe to Pay Channels like HBO & Showtime.
2) Almost everyone subscribes to NetFlix or a similar service.

If this future comes to pass, it'll hurt TV, Cable and Satellite.
Alot.

Latest AACS revision defeated a week before release

[myktek]

doesn't Rent & Rip already exist.....I think thats the only reason Netflix is popular as it is....

[Joe The Dude]

Originally Posted by myktek

doesn't Rent & Rip already exist.....I think thats the only reason Netflix is popular as it is....

I'm sure it does to some extent, but if this cablecard content lockdown model doesn't become more consumer friendly, or disappear alltogether... well.. it won't be pretty...

[DonK]

The biggest reason why cablecard isn't becoming as widespread as it should is that Cable Labs doesn't want it to in the first place. We were supposed to have cablecard in wide circulation over 5 years ago and how long has it taken for it to even be *offered* by most cable companies?

I've said it before, there needs to be congressional, FCC, or justice dept intervention to break the cable labs monopoly on the market.

The whole MCE/Cablecard tying because of their massively consumer UN-friendly DRM requirements is a blantant thumb in the nose of the government, imho.

They don't like the fact that people (by law) now can have their own cable boxes and are required to provide the decryption (cable cards) instead of raking people for monthly fees on a box. It's a cash cow that they are refusing to give up on, and are using as a tool to force their revenue models and impede innovation.

If you think about it, how long does someone usually keep the same cable box, and how much are they paying monthly vs the actual price to outright purchase the boxes?

[Joe The Dude]

Speaking of Cable Boxes, mine stopped working about 5 minutes ago.
My family hasn't watched any of the upper channels in a long time, so I'm just going to return it.
At the very least, I'll be saving $12.19 a month.