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bbefilms
Visitor

Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

I couldn't see this anywhere in the docs; is there a flag that can be set that prevents component cable output of HD material (i.e. only HDMI out)?
Thanks
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15 REPLIES 15
KennyJ
Roku Guru

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

"bbefilms" wrote:
I couldn't see this anywhere in the docs; is there a flag that can be set that prevents component cable output of HD material (i.e. only HDMI out)?
Thanks


Just out of curiosity? Why on earth would you want to do this?
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bbefilms
Visitor

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

"KennyJ" wrote:
Just out of curiosity? Why on earth would you want to do this?


Because there's no way to encrypt component.
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KennyJ
Roku Guru

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

That would suck for the large portion of your potential userbase who don't use HDMI (including myself). Considering that neither Netflix or Amazon are restricting HD content to HDMI, I think it would be very bad form to require it for yours.
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bbefilms
Visitor

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

"KennyJ" wrote:
That would suck for the large portion of your potential userbase who don't use HDMI (including myself). Considering that neither Netflix or Amazon are restricting HD content to HDMI, I think it would be very bad form to require it for yours.


Me too Kenny, I have some aging large screen HD TV's that I've been relying on for years and are component only. But you can't copy protect component output, and component capture cards are now cheap. Currently Hollywood is not setting the flag on Blu-Ray HD discs that causes component output in SD, but that's coming. As a producer, I know that my products are going to end up being swapped on a torrent at some point, but I'd prefer it later rather than sooner, and ideally not the 'crown jewels' of the HD version.
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KennyJ
Roku Guru

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

That's certainly up to you, but it will likely mean that unless your content is very intriguing, I won't even bother. I don't plan on switching my Roku to HDMI. I currently only have 1 HDMI port on my TV and it's already occupied.
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digiblur
Visitor

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

"KennyJ" wrote:
That's certainly up to you, but it will likely mean that unless your content is very intriguing, I won't even bother. I don't plan on switching my Roku to HDMI. I currently only have 1 HDMI port on my TV and it's already occupied.


Same here... my PC is hooked up via HDMI. My other devices are hooked up via component. I won't even both with something that forces me to downrez or not view at all.

People haven't learned that copy protection doesn't work...it only hurts the real users. The pirates end up getting the content out there anyways.

What's the point in setting the flag on Blu-Ray now...no one is going to bother with recording it via component. They'll just rip the Blu-Ray and get the real copy.
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bbefilms
Visitor

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

"digiblur" wrote:
What's the point in setting the flag on Blu-Ray now...no one is going to bother with recording it via component. They'll just rip the Blu-Ray and get the real copy.

Sure, but for indie producers pressing low numbers of Blu-Ray's isn't currently financially viable, whereas streaming HD potentially is.
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Anonymous
Visitor

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

When will producers and hardware/software companies learn that DRM and copy protection are just a complete waste of time and money? People will always find a way to steal things they want bad enough. As an Indie producer you should be more focused on producing great content that is available to as wide an audience as possible. I will echo what others have said. My HDMI inputs are reserved for my high end devices and if you go HDMI only for your content I won't see it either.
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digiblur
Visitor

Re: Prevent HD content being displayed via component cables?

"bbefilms" wrote:
"digiblur" wrote:
What's the point in setting the flag on Blu-Ray now...no one is going to bother with recording it via component. They'll just rip the Blu-Ray and get the real copy.

Sure, but for indie producers pressing low numbers of Blu-Ray's isn't currently financially viable, whereas streaming HD potentially is.


I was commenting on what you said about the flag coming to BluRay soon. Never said you were pressing them. Just stating it is pointless since people are ripping BluRay's anyways. It's just going to piss off the end consumer and solve ZERO with the piracy.
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