Analog Sunset Hits 2011 Blu-ray Players

Posted February 8, 2011 04:47 AM by Juan Calonge


Some of the new Blu-ray players announced at CES are soon launching, and they include all sorts of new features (e.g., 3D, Skype, streaming) but have lost one not insignificant feature – component video outputs. This is dictated by the "Analog Sunset" clause in the specification of the AACS, the content protection standard used by the Blu-ray format, which forbids new players from outputting HD over component. By 2013, analog video output will disappear outright from all BD players. For example, the technical specifications for the Panasonic BDT-110 conspicuously omit a component video output, which was listed (and present) on the previous BDT-100. Paragraph 2.2.2.1 of the AACS Adopter Agreement stipulates that "with the exception of Existing Models, any Licensed Player manufactured after December 31, 2010 shall limit analog video outputs for Decrypted AACS Content to SD Interlace Modes only [composite video, s-video, 480i component video and 576i video]. Existing Models may be manufactured and sold by Adopter up until December 31, 2011." Technically, a 2011 player could include component video outputs, but Blu-ray playback over component would be limited to 480i/576i, which largely defeats the purpose of having component video outputs. In turn, paragraph 2.2.2.2 says: "No Licensed Player that passes Decrypted AACS Content to analog video outputs may be manufactured or sold by Adopter after December 31, 2013." In other words, Blu-ray playback over composite, S-video or component outputs will be disabled. Most Blu-ray users have already migrated to HDMI connections so they are not affected by this development. It has been noted that the new Oppo Blu-ray players (models BDP-93 and BDP-95) count as manufactured before December 31, 2010 so they can output HD over component.
Source: Engadget \| Permalink \| [Country settings]

News comments (19 comments)

TTaco05

Feb 08, 2011

Well that leaves grandma and grandpa up a creek wouldn't you say? That's kinda stupid because you're limiting choice for the consumer and we know what we want, not the aacs or whatever it's called.

Top reviewer

Top contributor

I don't think it largely defeats the purpose, 480i looks much better over component than it does over composite or s-video.

However this is definitely a non-issue for most people, especially grandma and grandpa who are DEFINITELY going to be buying an HDMI cable as they get suckered by salesmen. What big box store do you know of that pushes component cables on people with their Blu-ray players?

Blu-violet

Feb 08, 2011

this should have been done from the start. If you own a BD or DVD player you should be using HDMI anyway

Top reviewer

Top contributor

erlinmeyer

Feb 08, 2011

this should have been done from the start. If you own a BD or DVD player you should be using HDMI anyway

What???? How many devices had HDMI when DVD came out back in the 90s?

Post Prod

Feb 08, 2011

The fact that the parties involved think this will somehow limit piracy in any way is beyond laughable.

Bishop_99

Feb 08, 2011

^Yes, it will do nothing at all to stop it.

Twile

Feb 08, 2011

"especially grandma and grandpa who are DEFINITELY going to be buying an HDMI cable as they get suckered by salesmen"

You're forgetting people who don't have TVs with HDMI inputs. Blu-ray is better than DVD for more than just picture quality, yanno. Not sure how many people have Blu-ray players and use standard def TVs though, so I won't spend any more time on this point.

If even one person has to buy new cables or a new TV or receiver or whatever because of this, though, it will have done more harm than good, because it won't negatively impact a single pirate. Nobody in their right mind would hook a recording device up to a high-def analog source to pirate a Blu-ray when they could simply use a free tool to get a bit-for-bit non-transcoded version of the video source from a Blu-ray disc. It's actually slower, worse quality and more work to go Digital -> Analog -> Digital.

Top reviewer

Bobby Henderson

Feb 08, 2011

Millions of older HDTV sets lacking HDMI outputs are still in use in homes across the United States. The analog sunset rule would force such TV owners to find an older Blu-ray player that still has the compatible outputs.

Owners of HDTVs without HDMI connections are going to run into increasing difficulty as devices for gaming, computing, cable/satellite reception, movie streaming/playback and more go the HDMI-only route. Welcome to the digital world where the only thing constant is change.

Top reviewer

ZoetMB

Feb 08, 2011

This is a solution in search of a problem. What is it exactly that the industry is afraid of? There are plenty of ways of ripping discs without using the component or composite outputs. Anyone who wants to make a low-res version of a movie can get the DVD version and find software to rip it. It's not like those aren't going to continue to exist. How do all those reviews and satires of Star Wars using original footage exist on YouTube?

All they're doing is angering consumers who invested in the technology and buy legal versions of the software in the first place. And since the vast majority of consumers will be using HDMI anyway, why screw the subset of others who haven't had the ability to upgrade as yet? It's older model A/V receiver owners who will have the biggest problem with this.

worth

Feb 08, 2011

This has nothing to with piracy and everything to do with increasing TV sales.

stratford

Feb 08, 2011

though i have not checked the fine detail converters do exist for reasonable money

AnnieLog

Feb 08, 2011

Wow, 11,000,000 TV sets go to the landfill because a trade group wrote a law. Talk about a scam! Can't be good for the environment, our wallets or anyone other than manufacturers.

Wonder which lawmaker added that clause....we'll never know!

AnnieLog

Feb 08, 2011

"though i have not checked the fine detail converters do exist for reasonable money"

Stratford, with all respect, why should I have to shell out extra money for a converter when my nonHDMI Sony WEGA from years ago works just fine and I wish to buy a Bluray player so that when I replace the TV I don't have to buy another player?

Top contributor

gekke henkie

Feb 08, 2011

@AnnieLog:
Quote "Wonder which lawmaker added that clause"; it's the AACS (pushed by the BDA and others, probably).
Quote " I wish to buy a Bluray player so that when I replace the TV I don't have to buy another player?"; you'd better be quick (read: this year still) and buy a BD-player that started their production run before 1/1/2011, like the Oppo-93 that is mentioned in the article.

I am not only using HDMI, but I am also still using my older projector, which does not have HDMI. Should I buy a new comparable projector ($5K) now? I don't think so! That's one of the reasons why I just bought the above mentioned Oppo-93 ($500 instead of the 10-fold amount). Just my $0.02...

Top contributor

fdm

Feb 09, 2011

Recall reading early last year that if the player is currently for sale now then even if it was manufactured last year the next firmware update could very well be required to disable 1080 via component. So possibly the oppo 93 will have to do so regardless of when you bought it, since its still in production. Guess we'll see how that all turns out in reality.

HD Man

Feb 09, 2011

Older Blu-ray players with production dates prior to 1/1/2011 will pass a HD signal but those of you thinking that you'll be safe so long as you buy your BluRay players before these manufacture deadlines, don't be so sure. Mandatory down-rezzing on analog outputs can be forced by Hollywood on a disc-by-disc basis on all BluRay players, regardless of manufacture date, using the "Image Constraint Token". No discs have been released with the ICT in effect to date, but that is what I'm waiting to see how that shakes out. (I still have a professionally calibrated Sony 65" that only has component inputs)

When the ICT does take place, I hope it is clearly identified on packaging, and hopefully Blu-ray.com movie reviers will add this indicator (ICT Active - Yes/No) as a service to HDTV legacy owners when completing movie reviews.

Top reviewer

David Craig

Feb 09, 2011

I have a 2001 Full Screen Panasonic Tau, 36 inch tube. It is first generation HD with component inputs, no HDMI.

Just in case the Blu-ray player that is attached to it dies, I picked up a $90 spare player today that has component output.

This is a spare system in our basement and I don't really want to upgrade it to a larger size.

In my case it doesn't matter a whole lot on a 36 inch set whether I watch a Blu-ray or DVD disk since there is marginal image quality difference. But more and more of my movies are becoming Blu-ray so I do need a Blu-ray player that can feed that TV.

Top contributor

gekke henkie

Feb 09, 2011

@fdm: I was afraid of that too, but the latest firmware-release from January has not changed anything regarding that, luckily! By the way, this is not mandated by the AACS, and Oppo has no benefit to do so, so that may be why it's still safe to buy the Oppo (you can always roll back an older firmware version, by the way).

@HD Man: There is already supposed to be 1 disc in existence (from before 1/1/2011!) with ICT, but this has not been confirmed yet. The AACS states that if a disc is ICT-protected, it 'should' be mentioned on the packaging, but they have not released a standard icon or logo, so who knows what we'll be getting, and if we'll be seeing it (and I worry a bit also if studios do not conveniently 'forget' to mention the included ICT on the package

Bifocals

Feb 12, 2011

It is always a bad idea to restrict consumer choice.
Not all HDTVs have HDMI inputs and it seems to me it is foolish to restrict the market for a relatively new fornat.
If someone is going to pirate movies; I am guessing they won't want to do it in real time; which is what they would have to do using an analog output.
They would most likely use a PC and find a way to bypass the inscription and down load to their hard drive using some sort of bit for bit program.
Removing component video outputs from players is a bonehead idea that will only hurt the format and it already faces competition from video downloading.
A lot of studios such as Disney are providing SD downlading so you can make copies of the movie for your car dvd player or pc or iPhone.
This is one decision they really need to rethink.