Encrypting ATSC 3.0 is a total BS move by the AS3A which consists of Peal TV (including major broadcasters).
Absolutely. And they can't even provide a proper justification for it.
https://cordcuttersnews.com/the-team-behind-nextgen-atsc-3-0-ota-tv-explains-why-drm-is-needed-for-free-ota-tv/This security upgrade for television broadcasters is important since unprotected signals can easily be intercepted, “deep faked” and redistributed without permission. Courts have shut down these illegal schemes but it took years and cost the industry millions. Preventing this problem in advance can be accomplished with the essential security protocols and capabilities inherent in ATSC 3.0. Broadcasters must plan to take advantage of these capabilities to protect their signals and their content. These security safeguards will keep hacking and unauthorized redistribution at bay while giving consumers better pictures and enhanced audio.
Solving that problem in no way requires encryption. It just requires some sort of integrity check, such as MAC/signing.
That could be built into the ATSC 3.0 protocol, and it wouldn't mess with anyone's ability to record programs for personal use.
Meanwhile Zapperbox claims they can currently play/record encrypted stations, and will have "Multi-room DVR / Whole Home Gateway / Quad Tuner" this summer
Interesting. I had never heard of them. Their FAQ at
https://zapperbox.com/pages/faqs says this under "Do I need one ZapperBox for each TV ?"
A final step will be to not require multiple ZapperBox devices and use apps running on smart TVs. We are working to add these features during 2024 starting with multi-room DVR.
Apps running on smart TVs ? Those same TVs whose software becomes unmaintained / obsolete within a few years ? And are they going to maintain the apps for each brand/model of TV long after the TV manufacturers drop support ? I wonder what hey are smoking.
Also, my main device for watching video is a 4K projector, and it properly cannot run any apps. Those belong on devices connected to the AVR, not on the display. I do have two TVs also in other rooms. One is an old Sharp 3D TV in a guest room, and the software is long EOL. It does a Chromecast Ultra streaming stick connected, though. And the Marantz AVR (also long EOL) supports DLNA, for all that's worth.