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Looks like DRM prevented to watch movies in many theaters yesterday (www.theverge.com)

submitted 10 months ago by Moonrise2473@feddit.it to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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From the article:

When we went to our seats, the wait staff let us know that despite the fact that the previews were playing, we wouldn’t know until the movie actually started whether we could see the film or not. If it didn’t work, the screen would just turn black. Luckily, the film went through without a hitch.

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[-] Banzai51@midwest.social 54 points 10 months ago

So broadcast TV currently broadcasts on ATSC 1.0. You get an antenna and a box or TV that has a digital tuner and you're good. Industry is pushing for ATSC 3.0, which allows for DRM. So even though they are broadcasting on the public airwaves, they can decide you can't watch. It sets up the local broadcasters to be the new cable with ever increasing prices AND play king maker on devices by choosing which can and cannot produce tuners. In my area, 5 channels have ATSC 3.0, and 1 of them turned on DRM. Meaning I can't watch it because HDHomeRun devices aren't approved, likely because it has the ability to record. Luckily, that channel still broadcasts in ATSC 1.0, so I can still watch it for now. 3.0 isn't a fully adopted yet, but that can change in the future (2027?).

[-] Got_Bent@lemmy.world 28 points 10 months ago

So at some point, it'll be impossible to get emergency broadcast alerts without a subscription to something, right? Like who's gonna turn on a TV or radio that they can't use in anticipation of some emergency they can't predict?

[-] Banzai51@midwest.social 22 points 10 months ago

Exactly. There is a huge potential safety issue.

[+] shrugal@lemm.ee -9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'm sorry, but I think that's a little far fetched.

Are you really suggesting that we run the risk of being too disconnected to receive emergency messages?! In an age where everyone has a smartphone on their person at all times, as well as at least a dozen internet-connected devices in their homes, offices, classrooms etc?!

You would've had a point maybe 20 years ago, but technology has changed a bit since then.

[-] KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 10 months ago

Ah yes, let’s put all our bets on cellphone infrastructure. Because that never goes wrong.

[-] shrugal@lemm.ee -3 points 10 months ago

You do know landlines are still a thing, right?

[-] KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 months ago

Landlines are not part of the emergency broadcasting system. TV and radio are.

[-] JackbyDev@programming.dev 6 points 10 months ago

This is like assuming everyone has a car because most people do.

[-] shrugal@lemm.ee -4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's not, because the statement is much more accurate in the case of internet-connected devices, and for emergency messages it's enough to have someone around you who has one (e.g. a neighbour). I guess it would be really hard to find someone - in the areas where this change is made - who doesn't have access to such a device in that sense, maybe even impossible.

It's really more like assuming everyone breathes air because most people do.

[-] JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 points 10 months ago

Most people don't have diabetes.

[-] decisivelyhoodnoises@sh.itjust.works 0 points 10 months ago

Yeah this was nonsense. Like it is mandated to have a TV always on to receive such emergency broadcasts. Same thing can happen to someone not having or not using a TV