HDTV with DVI/HDCP

A HDTV without DVI/HDCP is on the verge of becoming obsolete within a year or two.

According to a report by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the over-the-air signals throughout the US are going to be converted to pure digital formats from January 1, 2007. Hence, a HDTV without DVI/HDCP will be worthless after that.

HDCP - High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection
HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is an important connection that has brought a new wave of high definition entertainment choices for customers. HDCP ensures safe digital connection between superior quality HDTV and set-top-box. It is not only good news for customers, but also for content providers.
Intel Corporation is the developer of HDCP. Currently, it is being made available and preserved by Digital Content Protection LLC. Hence, it becomes necessary for the manufacturers of consumer electronics to get a license to ensure that the copyrights of content delivered via DVI connections are safe.

In fact, this is a means to make the manufacturers to dance to the tunes of content providers. In other words, one can say that Hollywood striving to utilize DVI to retrieve control of their content.


DVI - Digital Visual Interface
DVI (Digital Visual Interface) enables a high-speed uncompressed link between a HDTV set and personal computer or any other DVI-based electronic appliance. The biggest advantage of DVI is the uncompressed transmission of high definition video. It is not visible when you receive the high definition programming; it undergoes a transformation from the source, through the set-top box, and to the TV screen.

The good thing about DVI is that only one component cable is needed to transmit the red-blue-green signal and the speed of picture delivery is remarkably greater than the analog component cables. This makes the viewing experience on Plasma TVs, DLP, and LCDs, an enjoyable one.

DVI/HDCP sends image in an uncompressed layout. Hence, it supports real intricate graphic displays and user interfaces that are found in program guides and other features meant for HDTV.

The absolute power transmitted through the DVI connection allows the display devices to maintain the picture quality created by content providers and set-top boxes. This gives good viewing experience to the customers.