[mythtvnz] Sky HDTV to be DRM'd?

[Nick Rout]

Read this in the paper this morning:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3697268a28,00.html

Hi-tech TVs may not get the picture
12 June 2006
By ANNA CHALMERS

Television devotees who have spent thousands on new "high-definition" set=
s may not be able to access the technology when it arrives.

Sky has warned government officials, retailers and electronics manufactur=
ers that most TV sets sold in New Zealand are not capable of screening hi=
gh-definition pictures, which it plans to introduce next year.

"We believe that there are large numbers of consumers who have purchased =
a new television, have been assured by the retailer that the device is HD=
 (high definition) capable, but when HDTV launches will be unable to view=
 Sky programmes and other broadcasters' product," the company said.

Sky and TVNZ, which plans to launch a digital service, have met manufactu=
rers =E2=80=93 including Sony, Panasonic, Philips and LG =E2=80=93 and th=
e Consumer Electronics Association to tackle the issue.

Though many consumers have been told new sets are HDTV-ready, they will n=
ot work without a key component =E2=80=93 an anti-pirating device. The in=
ternal hardware protects programme right-holders from unauthorised showin=
g or copying and must be in place before shows can screen. Consumer Affai=
rs Minister Judith Tizard has met Sky bosses about the issue and the mini=
stry is investigating.

Consumer Electronics Association executive officer Garth Wyllie said repr=
esentatives agreed action was needed.

The association planned to spearhead an update of six-year-old standards =
to ensure future televisions sold as "HDTV-ready" had the anti-piracy com=
ponent.

Mr Wyllie could not say how many models were affected, but said cheaper b=
rands would be more susceptible. The sets might still be compatible with =
the digital services offered by TVNZ and TV3.

He said a consumer education programme that could include a "tick box" sh=
owing which TVs were HDTV compliant was being considered.

It was likely components could be added to existing sets to make them HDT=
V-ready. "The question is whether the TV will work with it."

It was unclear whether consumers who believed they had purchased HDTV-rea=
dy sets that were not compatible had any comeback.