Switched Digital Video (SDV): Privacy implications

[Ichinisan]

Why can't I find any articles about this? I skimmed the Wikipedia page and it doesn't seem to touch on the matter.

While I've always been excited about the possibilities enabled by SDV (freeing up bandwidth), I'm also concerned about privacy. Basically, the cableco knows what you watch since a request goes to the head end every time you change the channel. There's simply no way they wouldn't sell this information to ratings organizations like Nielsen. A greater concern would be targeted advertising.

I tried searching Google for "switched digital video privacy" and couldn't find anything. Does your TV provider assure you that data is not logged or that only anonymized data is shared with other entities?

It's all metadata. That's exactly what the NSA believes they're authorized to collect. It's probably just best to always operate on the assumption that privacy is dead. TiVo tracks everything you watch for the "Suggestions" feature. They also sneak in advertisements to various parts of the user interface. I'm sure they monetize the data every way they can. Netflix remembers what you watch. HBO Go / MAX Go...they all do. People will eventually see over-the-air broadcast as a waste of bandwidth / wireless spectrum. When OTA broadcasts and linear digital video are gone, we'll have no free communication at all. That's my concern with going to Internet-based streaming TV a la carte. Even more entities will be collecting / sharing information about me.

 

[ViRGE]

The privacy implications are essentially nil because the CableCo already knows what you watch. You don't need SDV to do any of that; just have the box tell the cable head-end what it's up to.

And they're already selling that info and doing targeted advertising as well.

 

[mmntech]

You want 100% privacy when watching TV, get an OTA antenna or satellite and don't hook the box up to the internet. Cable Co already knows what you're watching. That's why they're starting to roll out targeted advertising.

 

[lupi]

Sdv sucks.

 

[Ichinisan]

The privacy implications are essentially nil because the CableCo already knows what you watch. You don't need SDV to do any of that; just have the box tell the cable head-end what it's up to.

And they're already selling that info and doing targeted advertising as well.

I understand that. Practically all cable boxes can do SDV. To optimize bandwidth, it would make sense for cable companies to make sure all encrypted channels are switched. I also understand that they can have firmware that collects this info regardless of SDV technology.

My provider doesn't do SDV in any way. All the channels under 100 and the HD versions of those channels are not encrypted at all. Any TV with a digital QAM tuner can tune them...so I'm OK until the whole industry makes the SDV switch.

I have some amount of control since I can use my own Media Center PC with a Silicondust HDHomeRun Prime tuner and cableCARD...but then I have to trust that Microsoft isn't collecting that kind of information in the WMC software. Since the HDHR is Internet-connected, I also have to trust that Silicondust doesn't collect this information...or just stop caring about that.

 

[Ichinisan]

You want 100% privacy when watching TV, get an OTA antenna or satellite and don't hook the box up to the internet. Cable Co already knows what you're watching. That's why they're starting to roll out targeted advertising.

Yup. I'm concerned that the OTA option might one day go away entirely. Though I work for a cable company, I hope OTA broadcast never dies.

 

[TwiceOver]

Yup. I'm concerned that the OTA option might one day go away entirely. Though I work for a cable company, I hope OTA broadcast never dies.

My local NBC broadcast never made the HD changeover. Since that is required in September of this year I'm pretty certain they are going to just shut down their transmitter and not bring anything back online.

Mid winter our ABC transmit tower "fell over", they are not erecting a new one or bringing the station back online at a different site.

Broadcast TV is basically dead in my area. CBS and FOX are the only ones left for me. Even PBS doesn't come in.

As for your OP question, I'm pretty sure you sign that away in your agreement and I honestly welcome it. "F" Neilson and thier BS way of rating shows. This would be more accurate.