Broadcast Flag, Blocking ALL Recording

If you haven't heard, the migration to HDTV will probably be stopped
by Viacom. The same people who bring you mindless offensive drivel
want to prevent all recording from digital television by incorporating
a broadcast flag (a copy protection scheme).

Yes these people who portray people in the worst possible way
(heathens and morons) want to prevent you from watching that same
offensive drive a 2nd time (actually this sounds like a very good
idea).

But it would be extended to every aspect of TV. Tivo and Replay and
the interactive TV the cable companies are about to introduced may
become inactive if this is implemented.

Even though Congress has affirmed the right of people to record
programming for their own use Viacom is not willing to accept the rule
of law of the Federal Congress and insists their greed takes
precedence.

Viacom's desire would result in many people simply not being able to
watch any tv at all since their work schedules keep them from the
prime time programs that the producers spend so much money on.

In fact it would probably force a move to television a la carte.
That's where you pay for only the channels you want to see. This
would quickly result in many current programming channels being
dropped. I would expect the cost of programming would rise.

Seems to me that Viacom's motive here is to remove and prevent
competition for their MTV and Nickelodeon product lines. Personally I
find all this programming to be drivel and offensive. While MTV
videos represented a continuous fashion show in the 80s, it's now
urban gangster drivel (and worse). The women that used to be
admirable as portrayed on that channel are now characters that have no
grace, dubious hygiene and no value.

Moral Decay is precisely and accurately reflected by MTV. I don't
watch it. Viacom though, is hell bent to prevent competition and has
taken a self destructive attitude similar to that of the RIAA is
antagonism the music buying public.

Similarly destroying the ability to time shift movie recording will
destroy a large amount of the base of the MPAA. I'm not so concerned
here since they never produce anything I want to see. When they do
it's never in the theater more than a week.

Once the takes place, I can only hope the Federal government will
allow us to watch decent programming from outside the USA as there
isn't anything here I find even mildly entertaining.


===================
Want to get sick, rent at Somerset Manor in Towson, exhaust fumes and sewer gas
+++

I thought I read somewhere that part of the proposal is, Tivo like
timeshifting would *not* be restricted by the broadcast flag (as long as
it stays in the box).

So I guess my question is: where is a summary that lists the main
points of what's actually being proposed? What are the rules for what a
Tivo device is allowed and not allowed to do for what types of programming?

Thanks
Ben

umbra wrote:
If you haven't heard, the migration to HDTV will probably be stopped
by Viacom. The same people who bring you mindless offensive drivel
want to prevent all recording from digital television by incorporating
a broadcast flag (a copy protection scheme).

Yes these people who portray people in the worst possible way
(heathens and morons) want to prevent you from watching that same
offensive drive a 2nd time (actually this sounds like a very good
idea).

But it would be extended to every aspect of TV. Tivo and Replay and
the interactive TV the cable companies are about to introduced may
become inactive if this is implemented.

Even though Congress has affirmed the right of people to record
programming for their own use Viacom is not willing to accept the rule
of law of the Federal Congress and insists their greed takes
precedence.

Viacom's desire would result in many people simply not being able to
watch any tv at all since their work schedules keep them from the
prime time programs that the producers spend so much money on.

In fact it would probably force a move to television a la carte.
That's where you pay for only the channels you want to see. This
would quickly result in many current programming channels being
dropped. I would expect the cost of programming would rise.

Seems to me that Viacom's motive here is to remove and prevent
competition for their MTV and Nickelodeon product lines. Personally I
find all this programming to be drivel and offensive. While MTV
videos represented a continuous fashion show in the 80s, it's now
urban gangster drivel (and worse). The women that used to be
admirable as portrayed on that channel are now characters that have no
grace, dubious hygiene and no value.

Moral Decay is precisely and accurately reflected by MTV. I don't
watch it. Viacom though, is hell bent to prevent competition and has
taken a self destructive attitude similar to that of the RIAA is
antagonism the music buying public.

Similarly destroying the ability to time shift movie recording will
destroy a large amount of the base of the MPAA. I'm not so concerned
here since they never produce anything I want to see. When they do
it's never in the theater more than a week.

Once the takes place, I can only hope the Federal government will
allow us to watch decent programming from outside the USA as there
isn't anything here I find even mildly entertaining.


===================
Want to get sick, rent at Somerset Manor in Towson, exhaust fumes and sewer gas
+++

--
Ben in DC
(put 030516 anywhere in the subj to get thru)
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be moved by statistics" Oscar Wilde

Time shift recording would be permitted. Any other duplication
would be prevented by the "flag".

Seve

Sheesh! What a typo in my previous post. My name's Steve not Seve.
Must be having a "senior" moment. :-)

Steve

basically i dont know if tv is going to go this route. Look at the blood bath
that the music industry is experiencing! TV viewership among men 18-34 is down
a whopping 10% Networks got to give back hundreds of millions in free
advertising. I dont think tv can take the hits anymore and are going to have to
cave in
End higher ticket prices! Go to local college games!

I remember MTV used to be pretty cool back in the 80's (my family had
cable back then)... Then I guess their viewership grew up or had other
priorities and they had to reinvent themselves with garbage like Jackass.

The initial impact of this law is two-fold: first, no internet uploading =
(don't know if that also applies to intranet LAN sharing), second, and =
perhaps more important, is that it is a "foot-in-the-door law" that =
opens up more possibilities as to what further restrictions can be =
imposed with the broadcast flag or some future fill-in-the-blank flag.

"umbra" wrote in message =
...
If you haven't heard, the migration to HDTV will probably be stopped
by Viacom. The same people who bring you mindless offensive drivel
want to prevent all recording from digital television by incorporating
a broadcast flag (a copy protection scheme).

Yes these people who portray people in the worst possible way
(heathens and morons) want to prevent you from watching that same
offensive drive a 2nd time (actually this sounds like a very good
idea).

But it would be extended to every aspect of TV. Tivo and Replay and
the interactive TV the cable companies are about to introduced may
become inactive if this is implemented.

Even though Congress has affirmed the right of people to record
programming for their own use Viacom is not willing to accept the rule
of law of the Federal Congress and insists their greed takes
precedence. =20

Viacom's desire would result in many people simply not being able to
watch any tv at all since their work schedules keep them from the
prime time programs that the producers spend so much money on.

In fact it would probably force a move to television a la carte.
That's where you pay for only the channels you want to see. This
would quickly result in many current programming channels being
dropped. I would expect the cost of programming would rise.

Seems to me that Viacom's motive here is to remove and prevent
competition for their MTV and Nickelodeon product lines. Personally I
find all this programming to be drivel and offensive. While MTV
videos represented a continuous fashion show in the 80s, it's now
urban gangster drivel (and worse). The women that used to be
admirable as portrayed on that channel are now characters that have no
grace, dubious hygiene and no value.

Moral Decay is precisely and accurately reflected by MTV. I don't
watch it. Viacom though, is hell bent to prevent competition and has
taken a self destructive attitude similar to that of the RIAA is
antagonism the music buying public.

Similarly destroying the ability to time shift movie recording will
destroy a large amount of the base of the MPAA. I'm not so concerned
here since they never produce anything I want to see. When they do
it's never in the theater more than a week.

Once the takes place, I can only hope the Federal government will
allow us to watch decent programming from outside the USA as there
isn't anything here I find even mildly entertaining.


=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3 D=3D=3D
Want to get sick, rent at Somerset Manor in Towson, exhaust fumes and =
sewer gas
+++

The MPAA is a misnomer as it is predominately foreign-controlled. (should
be MPAJ)
There are way too many cowards in Congress and HOR who are afraid of the
MPAA (as well as the RIAA, another predominately foreign controlled
organization) for fear of political repercussions & would rather sacrifice
freedoms we hold so dear than stand up to these mobster organizations.
Many American corporations are also run by cowards that succumb to pressures
from "freedom usurping" organizations like the MPAA, or from the BODs that
don't want to scare stockholders. Now that litigation seems to be the new
American "business model", maybe you can't really blame executives for
surrendering.
Worse still, the unconstitutional DMCA guarantees that people no longer have
a say in what they see, hear or even think and other countries run by
cowards are bowing to this American law for fear of being spanked by Uncle
Sam (who "sold out" back in the 70's).
As far as TV content goes, I do enjoy the HDTV on Discovery and HDNet, it
would be nice to record something without having US "Thought Police"
charging me with a violation of the DMCA (undoubtedly, under the terrorism
label) and sentence me to twice the time I would get for premeditated
murder! Soon it will be a crime to "recall" a movie in your head.
Eventually, all US citizens will need a license to open their eyes every
morning ... violators will be executed - (by that time we will become
U.S.S.A. citizens, so it won't matter).


"umbra" wrote in message
...
If you haven't heard, the migration to HDTV will probably be stopped
by Viacom. The same people who bring you mindless offensive drivel
want to prevent all recording from digital television by incorporating
a broadcast flag (a copy protection scheme).

Yes these people who portray people in the worst possible way
(heathens and morons) want to prevent you from watching that same
offensive drive a 2nd time (actually this sounds like a very good
idea).

But it would be extended to every aspect of TV. Tivo and Replay and
the interactive TV the cable companies are about to introduced may
become inactive if this is implemented.

Even though Congress has affirmed the right of people to record
programming for their own use Viacom is not willing to accept the rule
of law of the Federal Congress and insists their greed takes
precedence.

Viacom's desire would result in many people simply not being able to
watch any tv at all since their work schedules keep them from the
prime time programs that the producers spend so much money on.

In fact it would probably force a move to television a la carte.
That's where you pay for only the channels you want to see. This
would quickly result in many current programming channels being
dropped. I would expect the cost of programming would rise.

Seems to me that Viacom's motive here is to remove and prevent
competition for their MTV and Nickelodeon product lines. Personally I
find all this programming to be drivel and offensive. While MTV
videos represented a continuous fashion show in the 80s, it's now
urban gangster drivel (and worse). The women that used to be
admirable as portrayed on that channel are now characters that have no
grace, dubious hygiene and no value.

Moral Decay is precisely and accurately reflected by MTV. I don't
watch it. Viacom though, is hell bent to prevent competition and has
taken a self destructive attitude similar to that of the RIAA is
antagonism the music buying public.

Similarly destroying the ability to time shift movie recording will
destroy a large amount of the base of the MPAA. I'm not so concerned
here since they never produce anything I want to see. When they do
it's never in the theater more than a week.

Once the takes place, I can only hope the Federal government will
allow us to watch decent programming from outside the USA as there
isn't anything here I find even mildly entertaining.


===================
Want to get sick, rent at Somerset Manor in Towson, exhaust fumes and
sewer gas
+++

"Ron C." wrote in message ervers.com...
The initial impact of this law is two-fold: first, no internet uploading
(don't know if that also applies to intranet LAN sharing), second, and
perhaps more important, is that it is a "foot-in-the-door law" that
opens up more possibilities as to what further restrictions can be
imposed with the broadcast flag or some future fill-in-the-blank flag.

Do you have any insight into how this would translate to "no internet
uploading" in practice? I mean even in the absence of a broadcast flag
there is the issue of copyright infringement and I don't see how the
broadcast flag really changes that. Specifically there is uploading of
HDTV sourced material now and I don't see that changing just because
there is a broadcast flag in the future. Technically it is feasible
now and in the future, while legally it can be attacked now and in the
future with copyright law.

One thing that does definitely change with the introduction of
broadcast flag is that every ATSC receiver will have an added
licensing cost of about $16 just to pay for the "right" to add
processing for the broadcast flag. This was according to a blurb in
Mark Schubin's Monday Memo for October 28.

Sounds like hysteria to me...

I saw a speach (prerecorded) online by an FCC official, and the broadcast
flag won't make it so you can't record stuff, it will just prevent you from
uploading across the internet- somehow. Maybe it will be handled by
internet service providers. At any rate, they tried to make it so no
equipment would be obsoleted and so time sharing and fair-use rights would
be respected. Basicly the only thing you won't be able to do is "timeshare"
across the internet (if this was ever legal in the first place) or send an
excerpt from a film (and that's probably not legal either). I'd be curious
to find out if there wasn't a way to hack it, for instance, is capturing
still frames and distributing them permitted?

I think this step is perfectly reasonable considering some of these
resolutions are approaching digital projections used in theaters.

One loophole is that it will not be able to stop analog recordings (a
downconverted signal that's captured onto MPEG or DivX) going onto the
internet, although the industry and FCC are working on ways of "dealing"
with this.

Considering that an hour of HDTV encoded material can be around 9 GB, and
considering current bandwith limitations of broadband aren't likely to
change (it takes me around half an hour to download a 200-300MB file on my
DSL), I'd say the piracy issue is academic at this point. Hollywood is
worried about a repeat of Napster, but fail to realise that a CD track can
be compressed down into a few megabytes at 128kbps without any loss in audio
quality (at least to the average individual) and sent over the Net in about
a minute , but it's a different ballgame altogether to Napster a film- the
technology just doesn't exist for widespread sharing of high resolution
video content (now DiVX might be more of a problem, even then, a user would
still have to have one huge download, lower quality, often with no way to
play it back easily- its not as convenient as spending 9-20 bucks on a DVD).