April 26, 2008
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The fight against the digital video era continues on. Recently, DirecTV has given me notification that they have placed a 24 hours time limit to how long I can keep a Pay Per View movie on my Digital Video Recorder. This was because the major movie studios have required that satellite and cable providers
alike may no longer allow their customers to view these recordings for
longer than 24 hours. Clearly they fear DVRs encroaching on DVD sales. Now, I personally don't bother with PPV movies, because I rely on Netflix for movie rentals, but I can see how this can be a little too oppressive for the viewer. XBOX Live Marketplace video rental service also has a 24 hours time limit, so I'm familiar with this strategy. I wish the studios would allow us to extend that time limit to maybe 52 hours instead, as I think that would be much more fair to the viewer than a one day viewing requirement.While the PPV movies are getting the press from DirecTV, there's something else they haven't talked about much. PPV events. It looks like that may have been affected too, because my recently purchased UFC 83 pay per view says that it expires after 1 month when I first watched it. When I look at it now though, no expiration date. Did they change their minds, or did I just get a glimpse of things to come?
Comments (3)
did you write them an email about your suggestion?
nah, I did not e-mail them my suggestion, as I'm pessimistic about them not listening to me anyway. The 24 hours thing is already entrenched in the system with precedence.
That's why the whole Make, DIY and Hacker culture is starting to get mainstream. As more and more manufacturers are conforming to the whims of the distributers we'll see more restrictions like this. People are getting around it by making their own recording devices.
Frankly I actually want another strike in Hollywood. We need independent artists and writers to catch on. As I see it, the stuff on the web is at the level hollywood was in the 1920s. Give it time and you no longer have the monopoly on music and entertainment.
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