[mythtv-users] OT: Behind the scenes at a cable TV setup

[Eric Sharkey]

On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 12:11 PM, Simon Hobson <linux at thehobsons.co.uk> wrote:
> While it's a bit OT for the list, since there are obviously quite a few users on cable systems, this article might be of interest in terms of how a signal gets to you at all. While it's a UK outfit (Virgin Media), it's probably not that much different for other operators.
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/08/18/feature_part_one_virgin_media_cable_tv_network_technology_server_to_the_sofa/
>
>
>
> On page 3 there is reference to the importance of conditional access :
>> Indeed, content providers with inadequate CAS protection have suffered badly in the past. The textbook example is ONDigital (later ITV Digital), a service that had its own smart card system compromised after hacked code was leaked onto the internet, thus enabling counterfeit cards to be produced, leading to the company’s demise following loss of revenue and facing the prospect of a huge bill for a CAS replacement.
>>
>> Although this incident dates back to 1999 with alleged perpetrators reported on at the time, it still makes the news.
>>
>> In 2012, the BBC’s Panorama ran an exposé on the case that pointed the finger at a rival CAS smartcard supplier NDS, which was a News Corporation company at the time and is now owned by Cisco.
>
> So while it's a right PITA for those of us honest enough not to try and get it for nothing, you have to be pretty blind not to see why they do what they do - even if you don't agree with it.

But conditional access and DRM/"copy once" type logic are not the same
thing at all from my point of view.

With conditional access, it's binary.  You subscribe to a channel in
order to be able to receive it.  Once you pay for it, you get it and
you can do what you will with it, up to the limits of copyright law.

With DRM, there are technological barriers put in place which prevent
activities which would otherwise have been legal.

It's clear that using conditional access for certain channels makes
sense, but the case for DRM is far from obvious.  If the goal is to
keep the content off peer-to-peer networks, or to prevent commercial
piracy, then the current DRM systems are an abysmal failure.  They
aren't strong enough to stop anyone who is serious about breaking them
and only get in the way of less sophisticated people.

If cable companies used cable cards exclusively for conditional
access, there would be much rejoicing on this list.

Eric