Subject: Starhub Minimum Requirement Different From MDA minimum requirement for HD
Anyway, a summary of events:Starhub has released HD trials. Great!http://miketan.blogspot.com/2006/05/starhubs-requirements-not-matching.html
So how now?
Well, I think Starhub will not broadcast HDCP content in the trials, but eventually they will do so. But once they implement HDCP, if our monitor do not have HDCP, the content will be degraded to 480P from 720P. http://miketan.blogspot.com/2006/05/less-discussed-complications-of-hdmi.html
They responded:
From: MDA CIR Staff4
To: michaeltanyk
Date: May 24, 2006 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: [SPAM] Starhub Minimum Requirement Different From MDA minimum requirement for HD
Dear Mr. Tan,
Thank you for your email.
With regards to HDCP, MDA aims to keep the public informed of developments and to future proof consumers' purchase of HD-Ready TV.
For this HD Ready TV Trial, the broadcasters are to determine the best operating mode for their business which will include the activation of HDCP for content protection in the eventual commercial rollout.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Community & International Relations
Media Development Authority
So what this this all mean? It's not clearly written at first look, but carefully reading this email reply together with their FAQ and our current knowledge now, here's my try.
Statement: With regards to HDCP, MDA aims to keep the public informed of developments and to future proof consumers' purchase of HD-Ready TV.
My interpretation: MDA's FAQ is not wrong. Their HD requirements are future proof. So, it is clear: You MUST have HDCP to future proof your LCD-TV purchase.
Statement: For this HD Ready TV Trial, the broadcasters are to determine the best operating mode for their business which will include the activation of HDCP for content protection in the eventual commercial rollout.
My interpretation: Broadcasters are free to determine the best way to represent themselves and the requirements at the time of the TV trial, optimized for their own business. HOWEVER, eventual commercial rollout WILL include (not 'MAY', MDA used 'WILL') HDCP.
So, this means, go buy a HD screen with HDCP, this is clear. Also, if MDA is right, commercial HD, by any broadcaster in Singapore, will activate HDCP. This further means that, questions of whether the content will be degraded when it goes over analog or to a non-HDCP compliant TV, will best be answered in - it's up to the HDCP parties, the content providers, the broadcasters, the device manufacturers, etc.
I asked MDA to comment on whether content will be degraded if played to a non-HDCP compliant TV - they did not respond yet, but once they do, I'll post here.
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4 comments:
I wouldn't dissect the MDA reply so closely i.e. "will" versus "may". I think MDA will be "hands-off" on whether or not individual b'casters or even channels, need to impose HDCP. Of course, it goes without saying that there will be a hecka lota people with snazzy plasma displays running 480p, who don't know any better, and still wax lyrical about a degraded-HD signal. But that's life!
Mr. Tan Ken Hwee? are you the man?
up, 'tis was me. i agree with what you said in your latest blog entry regarding the ability of MDA to specify (or not) that HDCP will be a feature in HDTV in Singapore. At the end of the day, the b'casters will decide what they want to do, and much as I think that there will be some people who are pissed that their non-HDCP displays cannot handle the HD signals that will eventually be sold to us, I also think that there will be many people who will be deliriously happy just to have a flat-screen thin-panel plasma *or* LCD, and who really couldn't care less whether they are viewing SDTV, a 480p DVD or a 1080i Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.
Oh BTW, delay in responding was because little one decided to show up early :-)
damn! Your little one is here? Once wifey recovers, give me a tinkle I come with frankincense and myyrh. As for the HD thingie, this site has achieved top 10 pagerank for "STARHUB HDTV" and they don't even contact me for a place in the trials.
The consequence of HD is not in the video quality, though that's a big sight better. The consequence is in the text they will show on it. I will post to the blog later to expand on this idea.
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