Who sets DRM

[jrockow]

I recently lost one of my channels; MoviePlex.
HDHR Prime shows it as DRM now.
I called Comcast to complain, and after a week of back and forth, they told me they don't set any flags, it's done by the station.
Is that a true statement?

[sub]

My understanding is that it's your cable company that sets it (since you see some companies use DRM protection on channels that aren't protected by other cable networks).

Their contracts with the station may dictate some channels are protected in special ways, like carrying HBO etc.

[HarryH3]

You might find someone able to help in the Comcast Direct forum at dslreports.com. Only you and the reps that Comcast has assigned to help customers in that forum can see your posts. They have a pretty good reputation for getting past the ignorance and arrogance of the call center "support" people. You can find it here: https://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcastdirect

[jrockow]

HarryH3

Thanx for your suggestion; I'll give it a try.

In the meantime, if anyone reading this can confirm they receive the MoviePlex channel via their cable provider, it would be very helpful.

[BrettB]

My understanding is that it's your cable company that sets it (since you see some companies use DRM protection on channels that aren't protected by other cable networks).

As I understand it: From a technical/implementation standpoint, it is definitely the cable company that sets the specific CCI flags (used to implement DRM protection) on any given channel at any given point in time. Apparently the specification is written/implemented such that the cable provider could dynamically change the CCI flags at any time (i.e. on a per show basis), but I've not heard of any providers actually doing that it practice--they all seem to set them on a per channel basis and pretty much leave them alone.

Their contracts with the station may dictate some channels are protected in special ways, like carrying HBO etc.

I do remember a while back that FOX was "forcing" Time Warner to restrict all of its channels (FOX News, FX, National Geographic Channel, Fox Reality Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Fuel TV, FSN, etc.) to have the CCI flag set to Copy-Once and Time Warner was complying. I don't believe that they tried that with Comcast (or, if the did, Comcast fought back) because FOX "News" channel still works for me. (Not that I ever watch it! ) It could be that FOX and Time Warner were in contract rengotiations at that point and something was put into their contract as sub suggested.

[jrockow]

BrettB
Do you receive the MoviePlex channel?
(thru a cablecard?)
Thanx

[ElihuRozen]

I do remember a while back that FOX was "forcing" Time Warner to restrict all of its channels (FOX News, FX, National Geographic Channel, Fox Reality Channel, Fox Movie Channel, Fuel TV, FSN, etc.) to have the CCI flag set to Copy-Once and Time Warner was complying. I don't believe that they tried that with Comcast (or, if the did, Comcast fought back) because FOX "News" channel still works for me. (Not that I ever watch it! ) It could be that FOX and Time Warner were in contract rengotiations at that point and something was put into their contract as sub suggested.

Fox did that to Verizon last year, too. I had to move all of them off my Ceton to my HDPVR.

[BrettB]

Fox did that to Verizon last year, too. I had to move all of them off my Ceton to my HDPVR.

Oh, I think that I recalled incorrectly and it was Verizon not Time Warner that Fox was forcing to change the CCI flags.

[BrettB]

Do you receive the MoviePlex channel?

No, I have a pretty basic package which only includes a few "cable channels."

[mvallevand]

There is a broadcast flag that the networks can send out http://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/200...rm-stinks/ MCE and perhaps some decoders respect it, but it is not encrypted.

Martin