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Has the "Broadcast Flag" Gone into Effect Early?

By Alexander Grundner | January 31st, 2005 Interest Level: SMOKING HOT


We received an interesting email after the broadcast of 24 on FOX. According to our reader Kesey: “I recorded 24 this evening on FOX-HD (Comcast, Chicago Area) and low and behold, I was unable to Pause, Rewind, or Fast Forward any of the show! I have not heard of this at all, but it seems as though they’ve found a way to restrict what a DVR can do. On the other hand, my TiVo, recorded the same show, on FOX’s non-HD channel and I was able to use all of the DVR functions.” This could be one of the first reports of the Broadcast Flag taking effect before July 1, 2005 (the official day the nuisance starts). Has anyone else had similar experiences while trying to record broadcast HD content?

Related:
EFF – Digital Television Liberation Front
MPAA – Broadcast Flag Press Release (FAQ)
Wired News – Calls to Burn the Broadcast Flag

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____________
Alexander Grundner is the Editor & Publisher of eHomeUpgrade. He has been following "Digital Home" developments since 2003. He's also a fan of cross-platform, open development software and industry standards related to media, networking, and the web. You can catch his daily tech musings on Twitter: @agrundner.
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  • Joe_in_NJ
    Using Cablevision, Panasonic DVR with TV Guide Feature, I set American Idol to record both shows this week, using TV guide single button record feature. Set additional 1 minute beginning and end, both days. Neither recorded AI, but did record the additional minute at the end. Tested other shows (Olympics on MSNBC, Food Channel) same way and they recorded with no problem.




    The second time I recorded, the properties of the minute or so that was recorded showed the recording date as 2/16 when it was in fact recorded on 2/15–which is what DVR had as the date. I didn’t notice the first time.
  • Now a week after the 24 incident, Lost Remote is reporting that Comcast's HD-DVR fast-forward was disabled during American Idol.
  • Crescent_Fresh
    Alexander Grundner said: Either the lockout only happened to Comcast subscribers in Chicago using the company's Motorola HD-DVR, or this a big hoax/PR stunt. You'll notice that the other sites reported the same email from a tipster (see links below), and both have a cut and past comment from andrew (aka amb34): PVRblog - Comcast DRM weirdness?

    GadgetMadness - Comcast/Motorola 6412 DVR HD Broadcast Restrictions?





    I wouldn't doubt that it's a TiVO PR guy...but that's just because I'm in marketing and wouldn't put anything past a company that is feeling pressure from a rival....BTW, I have the DVR through comcast and I'm lovin' it...[not a marketing message...]


    ;)
  • Either the lockout only happened to Comcast subscribers in Chicago using the company's Motorola HD-DVR, or this a big hoax/PR stunt. You'll notice that the other sites reported the same email from a tipster (see links below), and both have a cut and past comment from andrew (aka amb34):
    I have the same box, and I also could not ff 24. I posted about this before. Called the cable company this morning and they said they needed to send a signal to my box. I'll see if it works when I get home.




    Really, watching 24 w/o ff last night drove me insane. I think it's a box issue, not something special with that episode of 24 (though, this is the second time I've had that problem with 24).
    PVRblog - Comcast DRM weirdness?

    GadgetMadness - Comcast/Motorola 6412 DVR HD Broadcast Restrictions?
  • No problem here and I definitely had to pause it for about 20 min last night.
  • joedanz
    I am in New Jersey and have Comcast DVR and recorded 24 in HD last night. I was able to pause, rewind, etc., with no problems. I'd guess it was just a fluke - glad I'm using my old DVR as a backup just in case thought :)
  • niveusmedia
    I watched 24 in HD on a Niveus Media Center last night and had no problem pausing, rewinding, or fast forwarding. I'm in San Jose California. Must be a Chicago thing.




    - Tim
  • EvTom
    I also experienced this in the Chicagoland Area! Comcast, Motorola 6412, and Fox's 24!




    I'm livid! :mad:
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