The Future of HD Over Component Video

The Future of HD Over Component Video
As of May, 2010
There』s lots of confusion about which video sources can and will pass HD video over
their component video outputs, and whether changes are in store. Below is a summary
of the situation as of May, 2010 and further down is more detailed information.
Summary
Cable and Satellite Set Top Boxes
The following was decided in May, 2010 by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), part of the US Government:
! HD over component video outputs on STB』s can be turned off only for early
release movies
! HD over component video outputs on STB』s cannot be turned off for other HD
programming
! See the FCC press release here:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-795A1.pdf
Blu-ray players
The following rules were created by the Advanced Access Content System Licensing
Administrator (AACS LA), a trade organization of Blu-ray player manufacturers and
content providers.
! Starting January 1, 2011 new models of Blu-ray players will not pass HD over
component video outputs.
! Current models of Blu-ray players that do pass HD over component outputs may
be sold until December 31, 2011
Details: Cable and Satellite Set Top Boxes
The May, 2010 FCC ruling on HD video over component video outputs for cable and
satellite set top boxes:
! Requires the STB to pass HD over component for everything except early
release movies (which as of May 2010 aren』t available)
! Allows the provider to turn off HD over component only for a new type of
content: early-release movies available through Video on Demand (VOD)
services. Even then the restricted access only lasts for a short while
That means content available in HD over component video on these set top boxes as of
May 2010 is unaffected (thousands of TV shows and movies), which is a huge win
for manufacturers, integrators and end-users that employ component video
connections in their systems.
Background
Recently the Motion Picture Association of America told the FCC it would like to use
Video on Demand services to make movies available in the home much sooner than has
been the case. In return, they asked that the FCC allow them to use Selective Output
Control (SOC) to prevent illegal copying and distribution of those movies. SOC simply
allows the content providers to select which set top box outputs can pass HD, the goal
being to shut off any outputs that don』t employ copy-protection… meaning component
video outputs.
It』s important to note that the FCC banned the use of SOC on set top boxes
years ago, fearing that owners of HDTVs with only component video connectors would
be prevented from seeing cable and satellite content in HD. So what the MPAA was
really asking for was a waiver of part that ruling, just for early-release movies via Video
on Demand.
The Ruling
In this case, the FCC decided that it would be good for the public if early-release
movies were available through Video on Demand via cable and satellite set top boxes,
so they granted the waiver. However, they modified the MPAA』s request so that it
would be in effect for a more clearly defined term. Here is the FCC』s exact wording:
「Accordingly we will terminate the waiver for a particular film 90 days after the first
activation of SOC, or immediately upon the retail release of the film on any prerecorded
media (including Blu-Ray), whichever is sooner.」
Translation: movies can now be released via VOD as early as the content providers
wish, and they』ll be protected by SOC for 90 days, or until they』re made available in
pre-recorded form.
Conclusion
! Consumers with HDMI-equipped HDTVs will get access to something they』ve
never had before (legally): films still in theaters or not yet released on
prerecorded media.
! Consumers with HDTVs that have only component video inputs won』t have
access to these films, but they never had it to begin with, so they haven』t lost
anything (in the eyes of the FCC).
! Content providers will get to sell early-release movies via VOD with less chance
of piracy.
Details: Blu-ray Players
The Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator is an organization made
up of members of the movie industry, and Blu-ray manufacturers, who banded together
to disable HD output over component video connections in Blu Ray players.
They crafted the agreement mentioned in the summary above, i.e.
! Starting January 1, 2011 new models of Blu-ray players will not pass HD over
component video outputs.
! Current models of Blu-ray players that do pass HD over component outputs may
be sold until December 31, 2011
They were successful in convincing the vast majority of Blu-ray manufacturers to abide
by the agreement.
The AACS license also allows an Image Constraint Token (ICT) to be placed on a Bluray
disc- the ICT is a digital rights management flag. When a disc with the ICT is played
back in an AACS Blu-ray player, the analog component video output is automatically
reduced to 960 x 540 pixels, which is less than HD resolution. Thus far the ICT has not
been employed.
Conclusion
HD over component video will be phased out on Blu-ray players over the next few
years. On the other hand, the government has demonstrated a commitment to
maintaining HD over component for cable and satellite set top boxes (except for the
aforementioned early release movies). On balance, that』s very good news for anyone
whose AV system employs component video connections.