Virgin Media Selects TiVo For Next Generation TV Platform - Page 6

altis · 16-12-2009, 19:29

I take it then that VM (and their content providers) have no issue with running DRM on GPL software.

BenMcr · 16-12-2009, 19:58

eh?

TheDon · 17-12-2009, 01:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

I take it then that VM (and their content providers) have no issue with running DRM on GPL software.

Why would they?

The DRM is all contained in nagravision 3, something that the tivo software is blind to, it doesn't care what the DRM is running on and none of the code deals with it.

It's not like you could run a modified tivo codebase on the hardware either, it's hard coded to only run programs with certain digital signatures.

clinteastman · 17-12-2009, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by zantarous

From my understand people are getting the meaning of IPTV a bit confused, it is about the backend delivery of cable TV ie multicasting, not that it will be broadcasting using the internet.

No your right it's not being delivered over the internet (even though that's what the I stands for). It is however delivered over VM's walled IP based network, the same IP network we connect to the internet through. Well that's my very basic understanding of it.

But I take your point, from an end users perspective they are not connected (excuse the pun).

zantarous · 17-12-2009, 10:07

Well isn't that how TV is currently delivered, the current network comes down the same cable, any network requires some form of TCP/IP whether it is delivering a internet connection to yoru modem or TV to your V/V+ box.

**Chris** · 17-12-2009, 10:13

No, networks do not need to use TCP/IP. They only have to use those protocols if they want to plug in to the internet, because that's the agreed method by which networks connect to each other.

In a closed system, the network can use whatever means is best suited to the task. That's not to say VM aren't already employing TCP/IP somewhere in their TV broadcast system, they may be for all I know. Just that there is no technical reason why they would be compelled to.

**Stuart** · 17-12-2009, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

I take it then that VM (and their content providers) have no issue with running DRM on GPL software.

Why would they? Fairly certain GPL does allow for inclusion in commercial software products, most of which will also contain proprietary code, as long as the company involved publishes the changes they have made to the open source code.

zantarous · 17-12-2009, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

No, networks do not need to use TCP/IP. They only have to use those protocols if they want to plug in to the internet, because that's the agreed method by which networks connect to each other.

In a closed system, the network can use whatever means is best suited to the task. That's not to say VM aren't already employing TCP/IP somewhere in their TV broadcast system, they may be for all I know. Just that there is no technical reason why they would be compelled to.

I just used TCP/IP as a example (as it the only one I know) to deliver TV over a closed network you still need some sort of transmission protocol whether it is TCP or something else. The point I am making is when Virgin say that their next TV service will be IP, I am sure most people are thinking that it will be a internet delivery system rather then what Virgin actually have in mind. From what little we do no, no radical change will happen for the end customer it will all me in the headends where they can turn on and off channels that no is watching.

**Stuart** · 17-12-2009, 12:00

I know I am not picking, but what most people think of as the Internet is actually the World Wide Web. The WWW is part of the Internet, but it is not the whole Internet. It's entirely possible that VM could use the Internet for distribution, but have nothing to do with the WWW.

**Chris** · 17-12-2009, 12:01

I'm not sure what sort of transmission protocol would be required in a broadcast system? The entire TV service is just there, on the cable, digital code carried on an analogue RF wave for the box to receive and decode.

**Stuart** · 17-12-2009, 12:05

The transmission protocol would define the format of that digital code..

clinteastman · 17-12-2009, 17:07

Well I don't know about everyone else but I'm learning. Very interesting.