Big Brother Tivo Is Here To Help
February 18, 2009 6:31 PM   Subscribe

CableCard, savior of the PiP, intended assassin of the set-top box, it sounded like for the first time in a while, an industry group had done something that actually improved consumer choice. But it turns out it came with a price.

Seems that when you buy a CableCard device, you're agreeing to view anything the cable company says is an emergency broadcast. Even when you're watching something you recorded weeks ago.

Sounds like a great idea, albeit annoying (since it's changing the "live" TV channel, it will interrupt a recording in progress), but as some posters point out, the possibility of interrupting a politically embarrassing live broadcast exists. And it sure as heck seems like some sort of privacy violation. You can't rewind, pause, or get any response out of the Tivo during the broadcast, so if you missed the important info, oh well. And if it's the weekly test, you HAVE to watch the whole thing, or turn off your TV.

I just wish they'd pointed that out in any of the FAQ articles about the standard, before it came out, but I have only myself to blame for not reading the standard itself.
posted by nomisxid (32 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: It seems like there's a mix of maybe interesting content here and really kind of weird and not particularly accessible presentation; maybe someone wants to try a do-over that makes it a little bit more clear what this is all about and isn't quite so much like an entry on a DVR enthusiast's blog? -- cortex



 
Uh...
posted by aerotive at 6:36 PM on February 18, 2009


I don't know whether to ask what a "PiP" is or tell you to GYOB.
posted by DU at 6:41 PM on February 18, 2009


How the hell is it a privacy violation?
posted by Mwongozi at 6:42 PM on February 18, 2009


I don't think you know how to use commas.
posted by paddysat at 6:42 PM on February 18, 2009


It is kinda GYOB from the tone, but it's also interesting. I hadn't heard of this before.
posted by Science! at 6:43 PM on February 18, 2009


Mwongozi: "How the hell is it a privacy violation?"

The Cable provider essentially tells you what to watch in your own home, on your own TV, whenever it wants to, even if you're watching something else at the time, and offers no real way of avoiding the intrusion. It's as if they could interrupt your DVD or music album to air an alert or news message.
posted by Science! at 6:45 PM on February 18, 2009


Why would you wish this was pointed out before hand when there isn't a damn thing you could've done about it anyway? How does this have anything to do with your privacy?

Also, why would this of all things be the thing that chaps your hide about CableCard? CableCard sucks for so many damn reasons other than this. Just ask people who once dreamed of reasonably priced, home brewed, HD-capable HTPCs.

Finally, what they said about GYOB.
posted by drpynchon at 6:46 PM on February 18, 2009


PiP is picture-in-picture, I'm pretty sure.
posted by box at 6:47 PM on February 18, 2009


Or, y'know, those whatsits on playing cards, or those dudes who sang with Gladys Knight.
posted by box at 6:48 PM on February 18, 2009


Or the singular form of Mrs. Jonmc.
posted by box at 6:48 PM on February 18, 2009


ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKER DO YOU SPEAK IT?
posted by jckll at 6:49 PM on February 18, 2009 [6 favorites]


I remember reading an article maybe 6 or 7 months ago by some tech blogger type who was reviewing one of the first CableCard-compatible Windows Media Center/Edition/Whatever HD capture devices. Long story short, he couldn't get it to work at all, despite visits from techs from the cable company and whichever company made the device. Meanwhile, I can hook up a Hauppauge HD-PVR to my MythTV box and record all the HD cable content I want off the cable box's component video out, if I wanted to do that instead of just downloading everything off USENET or BitTorrent. CableCard blows. It will never work with anything but proprietary, closed software on proprietary, closed systems, and apparently doesn't work very well period.
posted by DecemberBoy at 6:51 PM on February 18, 2009 [1 favorite]


What?
posted by Krrrlson at 6:51 PM on February 18, 2009


The actual problem with Cablecard is that the technology essentially never works, because the providers don't want to support it. Ever tried setting one up with a HTPC?

Fuck TV; stop watching it.
posted by selfnoise at 6:52 PM on February 18, 2009


Um...how is this new?
posted by isnotchicago at 6:55 PM on February 18, 2009


This tornado warning is invading my privacy!

Oh, wait--What's privacy again?

Never mind.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:56 PM on February 18, 2009


This is interesting, so all you kings and queens of snark, please prove how jaded and cynical you are somewhere else, and shut up with the thread-shitting GYOB.

You're being that annoying hipster who prides himself on being so avant-garde that he's "over" fads before they begin. Seriously, DU, normally I love and favorite your comments, but, seriously.
posted by orthogonality at 6:56 PM on February 18, 2009 [1 favorite]


Oh no they can override channels for emergencies!

I'm annoyed because today's the original switchover date for HDTV, & though that date's pushed back to June, some channels are ceasing their analog broadcasts today anyway.
posted by Pronoiac at 6:56 PM on February 18, 2009


HDTV

ftfy
posted by Sys Rq at 6:58 PM on February 18, 2009


The Cable provider essentially tells you what to watch in your own home, on your own TV, whenever it wants to, even if you're watching something else at the time, and offers no real way of avoiding the intrusion.

I doubt that this will be used maliciously, although the possibility certainly exists. And remember when Disney decided to take advantage of the unskippable tracks on DVDs, presumably intended for FBI warnings, to show advertisements? That's not a great stretch off of this. (Do they still do that? I'd like to think furor stopped them, but know better than to expect that.)

But anyway, cable companies are having to fight the hard fight against satellite providers, so I doubt they'll go out of their way to piss off customers like that.
posted by JHarris at 6:58 PM on February 18, 2009


The only outrage I'm able to muster is outrage over the fact that people actually get that outraged about their televisions.

Frankly, the FCC should be finding ways to thoroughly disable and hinder TV watching. It would be a revolution, a boon to our flagging global economy. A new renaissance, like when England woke from it's drunken stupor and discovered coffee and tea.

KILL YOUR TELEVISION.
posted by loquacious at 6:58 PM on February 18, 2009


Uhhmm.. Since the cable company is already the one providing your signal, can't they theoretically alter the signal already however they want?
posted by blenderfish at 7:01 PM on February 18, 2009


This is interesting, so all you kings and queens of snark, please prove how jaded and cynical you are somewhere else, and shut up with the thread-shitting GYOB.

This isn't interesting. It's a marginal issue for most, and pointless arcana to just about everyone else - and I fucking live for pointless technological arcana. I eat that shit up like Cap'n Crunch, yo.

This post is totally Get Your Own Blog material complete with axe-grinding and a subjective lean so acute the post is actually lying down on the ground throwing a minor tantrum.
posted by loquacious at 7:02 PM on February 18, 2009 [3 favorites]


And remember when Disney decided to take advantage of the unskippable tracks on DVDs, presumably intended for FBI warnings, to show advertisements?
I agree with your general concern, but in specific, those were always intended for previews, aka advertising.
posted by louie at 7:06 PM on February 18, 2009


Oh, Jesus. The "I don't watch TV and would like to tell you about it at length aren't I interesting" crowd has shown up. Someone please put a limited Dan Deacon 7" on a string hanging from a stick and walk in the opposite direction of this thread. Or any thread.
posted by DecemberBoy at 7:06 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]


I'm wondering how long before they realize how many people are playing xbox or world of warcraft, and figure out how to interrupt those.

Just imagine if the blue redirected to your local PD's website, every time something went down in your city.
posted by nomisxid at 7:08 PM on February 18, 2009


I don't understand how this is a breach of privacy.

It's an opt-in service, there are alternatives, and you can turn off your TV if you don't want to watch it. In the unlikely event that they override this week's episode of Desperate Housewives (the horror!) for a false alarm, they will surely show it again later.

What's the big deal?
posted by robcorr at 7:10 PM on February 18, 2009


KILL YOUR TELEVISION.

I would but I'm too busy reading the internet.
posted by Mr Stickfigure at 7:12 PM on February 18, 2009 [1 favorite]


I'm wondering how long before they realize how many people are playing xbox or world of warcraft, and figure out how to interrupt those.

Actually, if there's a Zombie Apocolypse or whatever and I should evacuate the city, getting a tell or a xbox live message would probably be a good thing.
posted by blenderfish at 7:13 PM on February 18, 2009


(Also: GYOB.)
posted by robcorr at 7:13 PM on February 18, 2009


Someone please put a limited Dan Deacon 7" on a string hanging from a stick and walk in the opposite direction of this thread. Or any thread.

The only way you can beat us is by joining us.

Those of us who don't watch TV have more typing time available and longer attention spans.

Also, I finished my tinfoil-covered hut ages ago. Less mind control rays ensures the purity of my thoughts and precious bodily fluids, and a distinct lack of HFCS, transfats and peanut butter in my diet gives me the strength and endurance of Samson. Well, that and the luxuriously flowing hippy hair.

Anyway, what the fuck is a 7"? Got any unreleased Coil bootleg mp3s you want to trade?

posted by loquacious at 7:18 PM on February 18, 2009


It sounds like most of you complaining about this being the same as emergency broadcast messages aren't really getting it. Here's how it works.

1 You Tivo or otherwise record a TV show on Monday using a CableCARD device.
2 Wait
3 Thursday you decide to watch the recorded show, or any other recorded show.
4 While you are watching the recorded show, the cable company decides that you should watch something else, something they want you to watch, and offer no real way around it.

This isn't an interrupt of live TV, this is the same as if a company could override your DVD player in the middle of a movie and play something else, or interrupt your iTunes playlist to air something else.
posted by Science! at 7:21 PM on February 18, 2009


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