What ChatGPT thinks Sinclair will do with Tablo and ATSC 3.0

General Discussion
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I had a discussion with ChatGPT about the future of Tablo under Sinclair’s ownership and it offered an interesting response:

:crystal_ball: What are the likely limits for future ATSC 3.0 Tablo devices?

When a DRM-compatible Tablo is eventually released, here’s what we can realistically expect based on Sinclair’s position and A3SA guidelines:

Feature Likelihood Explanation
Direct HDMI playback :white_check_mark: Very likely This is the most secure playback method and required by DRM rules.
In-home streaming (to mobile devices or smart TVs) :yellow_circle: Possible, but with restrictions May be allowed on a small number of devices, possibly with HDCP or app-based access control.
Remote streaming (Tablo Connect) :cross_mark: Unlikely DRM rules currently prohibit remote access for encrypted channels.
Full DVR control on multiple devices (like ATSC 1.0 Tablo) :yellow_circle: Maybe, but only for unencrypted content Tablo may segregate access based on whether the content is encrypted.
Support for Plex, Channels DVR, open clients :cross_mark: Very unlikely These are not A3SA-certified and probably won’t be allowed to decrypt DRM channels.

:brain: Summary: What to Expect from Tablo and Sinclair

Question Answer
Is Tablo still a viable DVR option? Yes, for ATSC 1.0. ATSC 3.0 support is pending.
Will Sinclair/Tablo offer an ATSC 3.0 DVR? Very likely, but it hasn’t launched yet.
Will in-home streaming be supported? Possibly, but only with certified apps/devices and encryption safeguards.
Will remote streaming (Tablo Connect) work? Probably not for encrypted channels.
Will it support third-party apps or open-source? No, due to DRM restrictions.
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Have ChatGPT notify you when A3SA approves a DRM technology other then Googles Widevine. Otherwise if you want a network tablo DRM will only work on android and that will be once A3SA approves the current network DRM proposals.

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Actually, widevine is getting licensed elsewhere. So, “the curse” could still happen.

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I am talking network based tablo devices. Apple uses fairplay. Microsoft uses PlayReady. Roku uses widevine but it doesn’t appear that Roku’s widevine will currently meet A3SA requirements. Are you expecting Samsung and WEBOS to fall in line with A3SA.

But my ATSC 3.0 stations (the few I have) are still unencrypted. And other local stations don’t appear to be moving to join ATSC 3.0.

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In order for broadcaster’s to get what they demand, and allow for “something” (though not much from a consumer’s perspective), a method of end to end control (at all times for all devices and manner of use) has to be maintained. That is, it’s effectively grotesque no matter what. Broadcaster’s carry a lot of “weight”, but, they will do pretty much anything (emphasis) to get what they want here. Or, they will be content to let the whole thing “die” (which, in all fairness, with regards to “recording”, it pretty much what they want). If “tech” is the vehicle to get the “proper” ruling they wanted back in the 70’s… so be it.

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Wait, did E. W. Scripps actually sell Tablo to Sinclair or is this a ChatGPT analysis of what would happen if Sinclair were to buy Tablo?

In any case, the analysis of what happens under ATSC 3.0 is probably very close to reality. My hope is that the FCC tells the ATSC committee that DRM will be forbidden for OTA subchannels, as it violates the concept of serving the public interest. I firmly believe that if the FCC forces the conversion, two things must happen: 1. DRM should be disallowed for OTA content (except if they are broadcasting a subchannel typically considered a paid channel like ESPN, HBO and the like for subscription and ONLY those channels). 2. The company that refused to join the patent pool for ATSC 3.0 should be told by the FCC that if they don’t join the pool, the FCC will not mandate a conversion to 3.0, severely affecting their future profits.

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Just to clairify, we have not been bought by Sincliar.

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Yeah, this was my mistake (with no help from ChatGPT). My apologies.

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Wow. Just what we need. A technology that gathers up all of the garbage posted around the sewernet and summarizes it as if it is a factual and well- vetted report. Down the rabbit hole we go!

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