An ATSC 3.0 DVR update, Fire TV’s home screen crackdown
DVR, DRM, and ATSC 3.0
Broadcasters want you to know they’re not out to kill over-the-air DVR.
The industry group A3SA, which is in charge of digital rights management (DRM) for ATSC 3.0, released a specification this week for recording encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels from an antenna. This is supposed to give over-the-air DVR makers a clear path for supporting NextGen TV broadcasts, whose key features include HDR video, Dolby dialog boosting, and additional content. A3SA says the specification provides “a blueprint for a variety of new ATSC 3.0 recording devices” to come.
It may also be an attempt to fend off criticism of ATSC 3.0, whose embrace of DRM last year has made it toxic in some cord-cutting circles. But while clear accommodations for DVR are helpful, they still leave plenty of questions and concerns unaddressed.
Read the full column on TechHive →
Weekly rewind
Fubo’s lawsuit: I neglected to mention in last week’s newsletter that Fubo is suing Disney, Fox, and Warner over their plans to launch a sports-centric streaming bundle this fall. Since then, the company has also been emailing customers, imploring them to help “protect your freedom of choice” by complaining about the joint venture to their local representatives.
As I noted a few weeks back, the planned bundle from Disney, Fox, and Warner will only include channels that carry live sports, which means customers won’t have to pay for non-sports channels such as Fox News and HGTV. Fubo’s lawsuit argues that the company is unfairly barred from offering the same kind of package to its own customers. (There’s also some stuff about how YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV get better carriage deals than Fubo does, which strikes me as just business.)
I’d be more sympathetic to Fubo if it didn’t exclude regional sports fees from its advertised price, but the company has a point: By undercutting other bundles, Disney, Fox, and Warner could eventually squeeze out competitors and raise their own prices. Streamers like Fubo should be allowed to offer their own skinnier sports-centric packages as well.
Netflix nixes Apple billing: Back in 2018, Netflix stopped supporting Apple billing for new customers, presumably to avoid the 15% to 30% cut that Apple takes from all payments through the App Store. Now, Netflix is cutting off Apple billing for anyone who’s stuck with it for the past five years. Customers who pay through Apple will need to add a payment method on Netflix’s website before their next monthly renewal to avoid cancellation. More details are available on Netflix’s website.
Amazon’s home screen crackdown: In its latest Fire TV update, Amazon is no longer letting apps execute ADB commands. The move effectively breaks alternative home screen apps on Fire TV devices, as they can no longer detect remote button presses and steer users away from the Fire TV’s default interface.
Amazon says it’s a security measure, but enabling ADB in the first place is a six-step process, and the company wouldn’t tell Ars Technica what specific risks it was addressing by cutting apps off from the feature. An equally likely explanation: Amazon doesn’t want people bypassing its home screen as it gets larded up with more obnoxious ads.
More catch-up
- Warner reportedly calls off Paramount merger talks. (For reasons explained here, phew.)
- ESPN’s Formula 1 coverage will be simulcast on ESPN+.
- The latest Chromecast with Google TV update makes Bluetooth earbuds pairing easier.
- Crunchyroll is figuring out how to compensate Funimation users for wiping out their digital purchases.
- Blkfam: A free, Whoopi Goldberg-backed streaming service for Black audiences.
- MotorTrend+ is shutting down in favor of Discovery+.
- Frndly TV gets a proper home screen instead of jumping straight to the grid guide.
- Tubi’s app and logo are suddenly a lot purpler.
Save more money
T-Mobile will once again offer free MLB TV for customers this year, but not just yet. You’ll have to redeem the offer between March 26 and April 2 through the T Life app, so set your calendar reminders accordingly. (I’ve set my own reminder to mention it in the March 29 newsletter.)
Other notable deals:
- The latest Paramount+ code is STALLONE. Learn how to get it for free.
- Get your first month of Fubo for $72 (or more, depending on unadvertised regional sports fees) for a limited time.
- See more up-to-date deals on the Cord Cutter Weekly website.
Thanks for reading!
Got questions for me? Just reply to this email to get in touch.
Until next week,
Jared