My friend and I are both professional video editors. We got to wondering why hi-def consumer products don't use a signal & cable similar to the one used for DigitalBeta decks. One coaxial cable with BNC connectors that transmits a SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal containing audio & video. And the cable runs in some facilities are long. Really long. With solid connections on both sides.

I know that the SDI signal doesn't contain DRM, but these guys are smart. I'm pretty sure they could have worked that out. Just create a slight variation on the SDI signal. Most of the work was already done and had been extensively field tested.

Note that I'm an editor; I don't work in "the shop". So there might be a technical limitation I'm overlooking, but I can't think of what it could be.

Someone please tell me who to blame. Preferably a politician, lobbyist, or greedy corporation.

My friend and I are both professional video editors. We got to wondering why hi-def consumer products don't use a signal & cable similar to the one used for DigitalBeta decks. One coaxial cable with BNC connectors that transmits a SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal containing audio & video. And the cable runs in some facilities are long. Really long. With solid connections on both sides.

I know that the SDI signal doesn't contain DRM, but these guys are smart. I'm pretty sure they could have worked that out. Just create a slight variation on the SDI signal. Most of the work was already done and had been extensively field tested.

Note that I'm an editor; I don't work in "the shop". So there might be a technical limitation I'm overlooking, but I can't think of what it could be.

well you could actually because the bandwidth can be alleviated by running a pair of SDI or QUAD (DCI specifications).

The thing is, anyone can buy the RG6 cable and BNC connectors and make it them selves for CHEAP. So HDMI has to come in where no end user can buy the HDMI connectors and henceforth has to PURCHASE the hdmi cable from company X. :/

If you implemented the same "protocols" and formats of HDMI over something "SDIish" you'd have same problems minus cable length issues. Cable length issues are easy to spot and with newer amplified cables are not much of an issue (if you can spend about $300 for a 100ft cable). The problem with HDMI is the broad spec and no validation mechanism for manufacturers (and the crappy connectors. I don't think we'll see the newly spec ones soon).

larry