Protected content on Sky

[Dizzy]

Hi all,

In case you haven't noticed Sky have started upgrading peoples boxes with a new update (New EPG layout etc). The reason I mention it is that it appears they have slipped in another extra without telling anyone which is Macrovision content protection on certain channels such as the Box Office channels and, yep you guessed it, most of the Adult channels.

What does this mean to you...

...well it means that you may not be able to record anything on those channels anymore especially if you have a DVD or Hard-Drive Recorder or any other digital device for that matter which in a lot of cases will detect the Macrovision and then refuse to record anything on those channels.

If you have a VCR them it will record but the evetual recording may be unwatchable.

In my case I have a Panasonic DVD-R\RW\HD\RAM recorder which, depending on the channel, will either pause recording or alternatively display a message stating that the content can't be recorded and then stop recording.

Don't fret though as it is fairly simple to work around by using a special sort of Scart lead to connect your Sky box to your recorder which corrects for and\or removes all the Macrovison and similar technique's jiggery pokery from the video feed and so leaves you with a good recording.

If you interested in buying one check out the SmartLead ProHQ Macro vision & CGMS filtering SCART lead (around ?50) which is available from a whole heap of on-line retailers.

Cheers all!

[trapanicus]

Sky+ records TAC, Spice Extreme, Playboy and TVX 1,2 and 3 as normal up to tonight - but Climax 3-1, 3-2 and 3-3 hasn't now for months! - Neither has Xplicit XXX, neither for subscribers or pay-nightly (even using the manual recording under the services menu) - I cancelled my subscription to those because they won't record. - they would have my ?'s/month if they'd sort it, but they don't even respond to my enquiries. The Sportsxxx channels record OK on sky+ as well - and all of these channels go on to videotape unhindered.