The analog sunset is coming and, once again, there is a simple name that encompasses a complex topic. While it sports a sweet, catchy name, the upcoming analog sunset is a planned obsolescence that affects the video equipment already installed in your and your clients’ homes and businesses.

Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator (AACS LA) is behind the upcoming changes. AACS released their final adopter agreement in 2009 (Before then, digital discs were operating under an interim agreement.) Within the final licensing agreement, it states: “2.2.2.1 Analog Sunset – 2010. With the exception of Existing Models, any Licensed Player manufactured after December 31, 2010 shall limit analog video outputs for Decrypted AACS Content to SD Interlace Modes [composite video, s-video, 480i component video and 576i video] only.”
You may be surprised to find out that AACS founders include big-time AV manufacturers Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sony, as well as IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Disney, and Warner Brothers. What’s at stake for this diverse group of industries? Revenue that is lost in the form of illegal distribution of unprotected content. Have you ever made a mix CD, made a few copies, and gave to your friends? Or have you seen the guys on the street who sell DVD copies of movies that are still in the theaters? These activities represent lost dollars, and they want it to stop.

Digital rights management (DRM) is a darling topic among content producers. The use of DRM means that everyone in the revenue chain will get their cut, because the consumer can’t access the content by any other way than paying for it. The problem is that DRM can’t be applied to an analog signal. An analog signal can be copied and distributed, often for free.

With the new AACS agreement, several things will take place over the next few years. I’ll start in chronological order:

• Beginning December 31, 2010, the industry must stop selling any playback device (Blu-ray player, etc.) that can pass an analog signal of decrypted AACS content.
• Devices sold between December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 must have their analog outputs limited to SD Interlace modes only (Composite, S-Video, 480 component, and possible 576i component.)
• And to ensure that not everyone can bypass the new rules by rushing out to buy a playback device before December 31st, Blu-ray discs available after January 11, 2011, may include an Image Token Constraint (ITC). The ITC in each disc will disable high definition signal over component video, regardless of your device’s capability. The disc can play, but at a much lower resolution than you probably care to watch.

So, here we are at the final push for digital-only systems. The solutions are simple but will add up to be an expensive endeavor once you count up all the new cables, replacing older HDTVs, installation labor, etc. What should be done now? It’s time to start educating your clients that this is happening soon. December seems like a long way away, but it’s not when you’ll have clients asking for service calls all at the same time because their pictures look “funny” or that their old Blu-ray player that you installed doesn’t work for some reason.

As an aside, I was recently talking to an AV dealer about the white spaces (audio) issue and the fact that many clients had to replace their 700 MHz equipment even though it still worked fine. When he began making phone calls to clients to warn them about upcoming changes, some thought it was a bogus sales call and would hang up on him. Then, when they began reading about it on their own, they realized the mistake.

My advice? Head it off at the pass. Put together a mailing (either via email or on paper) and send it out. Put in URLs and cite sources so that your clients know you’re not just trying to sell them new gear for no reason. And even if you don’t think it affects your client’s workplace, send it anyway since it may affect what’s happening with their home AV systems. Either way, you’ll look like a knowledge source and someone who’s ahead of the game.

Linda Seid Frembes is a rAVe columnist who covers AV technology, installs, market trends and industry news. Linda has worked with high profile AV manufacturers, trade organization, systems integrators, rep firms and dealer/distributors in the industry including John Lyons Systems, Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW), Northern Sound & Light (NSL), and InfoComm International, among others. Reach her at linda@ravepubs.com