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Windows Media Center Restricts Cable TV

Posted by kdawson on from the no-HBO-for-you dept.

PrescriptionWarning writes "With the latest Media Center Edition update from Microsoft, I and many others are finding that content available on television is now completely unwatchable from Media Center. The message states: 'Restricted Content: Restrictions set by the broadcaster and/or originator of the content prohibit playback of the program on this computer.' A simple search on the subject reveals that HBO programming and, in my case, Braveheart on AMC are among the many selections now restricted for playback or recording by Windows Media Center Edition. What's next, restricting every piece of programming on television?"

11 of 448 comments (clear)

  1. Evil bit! by DrDribble · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah, now I get it - that's where the Evil bit went! They can pry my MythTV boxes from my dead, cold fingers. Dr

    --
    A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. -- Einstein
  2. Heading in the right direction by nmoog · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's a good start by Microsoft. But I found that you can implement a more efficient DRM system by snapping off the rabbit-ear antennae on top of your TV. I did it eight months ago and I found that when I go to bed now my brain doesn't feel like it's been mushed to pulp by ads and boring drivel. Good luck you noble DRM!

  3. What's next... by Bowdie · · Score: 4, Funny

    >What's next, restricting every piece of programming on television?

    Yes. Didn't you get the memo?

    --
    yes, www.dotcomforwardslash.com is my real URL.
  4. Re:It's not the content that's being restricted by laejoh · · Score: 5, Funny

    and you people still buy Microsoft products and then complain when they behave as expected?

    That's the thing, exactly! Who'd think things coming from Microsoft would behave as expected!

  5. Re:Microsoft once again demonstrates... by FridayBob · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, no! You've got it all wrong!

    DRM is your friend! If Microsoft didn't include it in Windows, the big media corporations would quickly sue the pants off of them, making it impossible to sell Windows. Why, that would be a disaster for the consumer! This way, we can at least still enjoy some forms of copyrighted content.


    ;-)

  6. Re:Microsoft once again demonstrates... by QuickFox · · Score: 1, Funny

    you can't pin it all on M$ You must be new here.
    --
    Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
  7. Re:TV? by duguk · · Score: 2, Funny

    downloaded and not some gay porn movie (unless they tried to download a gay porn... you get the idea)


    Your downloads sounds interesting and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.
  8. Re:It's not the content that's being restricted by jimstapleton · · Score: 5, Funny

    Remember, it's digital content enablement.

    Don't you feel enabled?

    --
    34486853790
    Connection too slow for X forwarding? Try "ssh -CX user@host"
  9. Re:It's not the content that's being restricted by crazyjimmy · · Score: 5, Funny

    So...to put it another way

    MythTV is better cause it'll only punch you once in the gut, right at the very beginning, as opposed to WMC which will punch you in the gut at a later date.

    Maybe I don't want to be punched in the gut.

    --Jimmy

  10. Re:It's almost as if... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Don't judge content by its DRM. - modern idiom

  11. Re:You mean HD channels? by shr3k · · Score: 4, Funny

    FWIW, I can see HBO HD on the firewire port of my Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD in NYC on Time Warner. I know very little about this but I plugged in my Macbook Pro, installed Apple's Firewire SDK and was able to record that content and play it back with no problems. Thanks for reporting. We'll issue a fix for this within a few days.

    Sincerely,
    Time Warner Support