Let's dive into the world of ATSC 3.0 and DRM, and look at some of the drawbacks.
First things first, some ATSC 3.0 channels might be DRM encrypted, which means they won't work on certain devices. But don't worry, if you're using an HDHomeRun FLEX 4K, it'll automatically switch to the ATSC 1.0 version of the channel. DRM encryption is a tool used by some broadcasters to restrict certain viewing and recording capabilities.
Now, let's talk about unencrypted ATSC 3.0 channels. Will they play on your Apple devices? You bet! All Apple TV 4K models, modern iPads, iPhones, and Macs will support these channels. The combo of HDHomeRun FLEX 4K, M1 Mac Mini, and HDHomeRun app, as well as HDHomeRun FLEX 4K, iPad Air (5th gen), and HDHomeRun app, have both been NextGen TV certified.
But what about DRM-encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels on Apple devices? Unfortunately, no. ATSC 3.0 uses Google Widevine DRM encryption, which is a competitor to Apple's FairPlay DRM encryption. This isn't a problem specific to HDHomeRun, and currently, there's no solution in sight.
Moving on to Xbox and Windows 10/11 systems, unencrypted ATSC 3.0 channels will play just fine. However, DRM-encrypted channels won't due to the same Google Widevine and Microsoft PlayReady DRM encryption competition.
Roku TVs and Roku Ultra 4800X or newer will support unencrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, but not DRM-encrypted ones. The same goes for modern LG TVs, Android TVs, and Fire TV devices.
In conclusion, unencrypted ATSC 3.0 channels are widely supported across various devices, but DRM-encrypted channels face some hurdles due to competing DRM encryption technologies. Fortunately, ATSC 1.0 will be around for some time to come, as converting to ATSC 3.0 is expensive for broadcasters. As of right now, the picture quality is not all that noticeable between the standards on most channels. So we have some time before another source of FREE TV may come to an end.
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