Joining MGM, Fox, Buena Vista, and Paramount, Universal has announced that they will not engage the "Image Constraint Token" (ICT) on their titles for the next-generation high-definition disc format in their initial release.
The function of the ICT is to force non-encrypted video connections (e.g. component video) to be down-converted to 960 x 540 pixels instead of the full resolution of the disc (e.g. 1080p). Under this scenario, only HDCP-Equipped HDMI (or DVI) Connections would transfer the film at full resolution.
This move was obviously done to not completely enrage the owners of the millions of HDTV sets which lack HDCP HDMI/DVI inputs (currently estimated to be between seven million and eight million in the US). Since almost all HDTV's sold pre-2005 fall into this category, this is a large group of early adopters, who are traditionally the torch-bearers of any new technology, to aggravate.
However, this policy is not guaranteed in perpetuity. It is Universal's (or any other studio for that matter) prerogative to re-enable ICT at any time. Enabling this feature has always seemed like a silly policy (much like the broadcast flag in digital tv signals), but the feature is out there to be enabled by the content provider at any time.
To further complicate things, there are two sides at play here too, each jockeying for position. On one side, you have the backer's of the Blu-Ray format, developed by Sony, which include MGM (Sony), Fox, Buena Vista, Disney, and Paramount. On the other side, you have the Toshiba developed format, HD-DVD. Backers of HD-DVD include Warner Bros. (technically backing both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray), New Line Cinema, and Universal Pictures.....
For the full version go to Cobalt Cable.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment