As per usual with the F1 programs, because they aren't televised when normal people can view them because we're either sleeping or working, in this case the latter, we record them on a DVD so we can watch the practice/qualifying/race when we get home. Today, when my wife tried to record, it was giving her a copyright protected message. It did the same for me when I got home. I tried it on Comedy Central and it worked fine. So I know it isn't the recorder or the disk. It has to be the Speed broadcast.

I just want to watch the programs. What gives? All you're doing is hurting your image and pissing off your viewers! Are you guys with a DVR getting the same thing?

recorded this mornings practise on an old vcr no problem

Sounds like a DVR problem. I was able to record it on my Directv DVR no problem.

What kind of television service do you have? It is probably a "copyright" signal being sent by your service provider on the channel. The intent of the signal was to send it on channels like HBO to prevent copying movies, but some providers seem to send it on all channels.

When I tried ATT U-verse they added the copyright signal after about a week of having their DVR box and I couldn't record anything, including news! That is one reason I dropped them and why I keep my old 90s era Sony DirecTV and original Sony TiVo boxes.

I haven't bought one yet myself, but a product called "Grex" is supposed to remove copy protection from the video signal.

I've got a DVD recorder on my DirecTV. Everyone I've talked to doesn't have that issue with DVR/TiVos on copyrighted channels.

It wasn't like this for the last race. I don't get it.

racingfanatic111 - 19 June 2009 05:48 PM

Sounds like a DVR problem. I was able to record it on my Directv DVR no problem.

Worked for me too.

My recording (via a standalone DVD recorder, not DVR/HDR) of the Britsh GP practice failed this morning, so I stayed up all night to do a manual recording of qualifying. I found that Time Warner has instituted copy protection on SPEED. TW has copy protection on any of their HD channels, and apparently SPEED is now broadcast in HD even though TW doesn't carry it in HD format here in Los Angeles. I've recorded every GP since Dallas in 1984, and either I'll have to try Direct TV or get a copy protection buster. I can record via OTA Fox for the next few GPs, but either I solve the problem or chuck F1 broadcasts altogether, something I don't relish as I used to shoot F1 with Road & Track and am more than just the average viewer.

SPEED should raise hell with Time Warner over the copy protection, especially as watching F1 live is such a pain in the sleep and ultimately not possible on a regular basis.

Same problem on COMCAST in Davis, CA (Sacramento) so for this long time Speed viewer I won't be watching Speed unless the show I want is broadcast in primetime and I don't have any real life going on - like my own racing! This bites!!

I have the DVD recorder problem too. Now I've missed several F1 airings. I emailed my cable company and they said the Speed is the one that puts the copy protection signal with their programming not the cable company. This is really not right. Speed is the only reason I pay cable fees at all. Any ideas guys?

Note to TV executives:

I will cancel my DirecTV over things like this. As soon as it becomes my problem, I will discontinue spending money on your service.

I just made a post on the NASCAR forum about the copy protection. Let's see how the NASCAR fans like the lack of time-shifting via a DVD recorder.