| What's New Canadian Digital Television (CDTV) adopts Digital Television
signal protection technology
(July 2004 – Toronto) CDTV announced that it endorses the Broadcast Flag signal
protection technology and the adoption of it by its members, as approved and adopted in
the United States by the Federal Communications Commission. This technology prevents the
unauthorized retransmission of a digital signal. Essentially the technology blocks a
pass-through to the internet of high quality Standard or High Definition digital signals.
The Broadcast Flag technology was developed in the United States by broadcasters who were
concerned that in a digital world, high quality digital signals may be subject to piracy
much like music has been with digital CDs.
In order to preserve the business viability of over the air broadcasters and ensure the
availability of high value and high quality content in free over the air services in a
digital world this simple blocking technology has been adopted by the FCC in the United
States and will be implemented in 2005. Canadian broadcasters will follow a similar
timetable.
The technology is extremely simple in that a few basic bits of information are inserted
into the digital transmission signal by the broadcaster (known as the Flag) and then is
read by a demodulator in a DTV receiver. When an unauthorized attempt is made to
retransmit the broadcast signal the Flag trips the software in the decoder and existing
protection software prevents the retransmission. This technology does not prevent the
consumer from normal home use of the signal, home networking or personal recording.
By adopting the Broadcast Flag Canadian broadcasters are ensuring access to high quality
programming from both Canadian and foreign services for their DTV/HDTV audiences.
CDTV is a not for profit industry association dedicated to managing an orderly transition
from analog to standard and high definition digital broadcasting. CDTV membership
includes: broadcasters, pay and specialty providers, consumer electronic manufacturers,
broadcast equipment manufacturers, and cable and direct to home satellite service
suppliers.
Contact:
Michael McEwen
President CDTV
mmcewen@cdtv.ca
Phone: 416 205 2000 |
