Time shifting
Encyclopedia
Time shifting is the recording of programming to a storage medium to be viewed or listened to at a time more convenient to the consumer
. Typically, this refers to TV programming but can also refer to radio shows via podcasts.
In recent years, the advent of the digital video recorder
(DVR) has made time shifting easier, by using an electronic program guide
(EPG) and recording shows onto a hard disk. Some DVRs have other possible time shifting methods, such as being able to start watching the recorded show from the beginning even if the recording is not yet complete. In the past, time shifting was done with a video cassette recorder (VCR) and its timer function, in which the VCR tunes into the appropriate station and records the show onto video tape.
Freesat+
, Freeview+
, Sky+
, V+ and BT Vision
services in Ireland and the UK allow one to timeshift. TiVo
, DirecTV
and other US cable or satellite subscription services offer PVR set-top box
es, often for an additional monthly fee. DStv
, based in South Africa
, offers PVR set-top boxes to countries across Africa which allow time shifting of live and recorded television.
In cable television
broadcasting, time shifting may also refer to the availability of network affiliates from different time zone
s, serving a similar function of making television programs available at multiple times throughout the day.
Certain broadcasters transmit timeshifted versions of their channels, usually one hour in the future, to enable those without recording abilities to resolve conflicts and those with recording abilities more flexibility in scheduling conflicting recordings. (See timeshift channel
)
was proved by the landmark court case of Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
or the "Betamax case"). In 1979, Universal sued
Sony, claiming its timed recording capability amounted to "copyright infringement
."
Sony argued that the advent of its Betamax
video recorder in 1976 did not violate the copyright
of the owners of shows which the device recorded. A district court found that noncommercial home use recording was considered fair use
and ruled in favor of Sony. In appeal
s, the United States Court of Appeals
reversed this decision in 1981 giving the edge to Universal, but the Supreme Court of the United States
reversed it yet again in 1984, and found in favor of Sony 5-4. The majority decision held that time shifting was a fair use
, represented no substantial harm to the copyright holder and would not contribute to a diminished marketplace for its product.
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
. Typically, this refers to TV programming but can also refer to radio shows via podcasts.
In recent years, the advent of the digital video recorder
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
(DVR) has made time shifting easier, by using an electronic program guide
Electronic program guide
Electronic program guides and interactive program guides provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus displaying broadcast programming or scheduling information for current and upcoming programming...
(EPG) and recording shows onto a hard disk. Some DVRs have other possible time shifting methods, such as being able to start watching the recorded show from the beginning even if the recording is not yet complete. In the past, time shifting was done with a video cassette recorder (VCR) and its timer function, in which the VCR tunes into the appropriate station and records the show onto video tape.
Freesat+
Freesat+
Freesat+ is a consumer brand created to raise consumer awareness and promote sales of Freesat-capable digital TV recorders, otherwise known as personal video recorders...
, Freeview+
Freeview+
Freeview+ and Freeview+ HD is a consumer brand created in the UK by DTV Services Ltd to "raise consumer awareness and promote sales" of Freeview capable digital TV recorders otherwise known as personal video recorders...
, Sky+
Sky+
Sky+, or Sky Plus, is a personal video recorder service for Sky in the UK. Launched in September 2001, it allows the user to record, pause and instantly rewind live TV. The system performs these functions using an internal hard drive inside the Sky+ set top box...
, V+ and BT Vision
BT Vision
BT Vision is a hybrid IPTV-digital terrestrial television service provided by BT Group in the United Kingdom which was launched in December 2006...
services in Ireland and the UK allow one to timeshift. TiVo
TiVo
TiVo is a digital video recorder developed and marketed by TiVo, Inc. and introduced in 1999. TiVo provides an on-screen guide of scheduled broadcast programming television programs, whose features include "Season Pass" schedules which record every new episode of a series, and "WishList"...
, DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
and other US cable or satellite subscription services offer PVR set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es, often for an additional monthly fee. DStv
DStv
DStv is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on Ku band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7 , which only requires a small satellite dish...
, based in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, offers PVR set-top boxes to countries across Africa which allow time shifting of live and recorded television.
In cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
broadcasting, time shifting may also refer to the availability of network affiliates from different time zone
Time zone
A time zone is a region on Earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. In order for the same clock time to always correspond to the same portion of the day as the Earth rotates , different places on the Earth need to have different clock times...
s, serving a similar function of making television programs available at multiple times throughout the day.
Certain broadcasters transmit timeshifted versions of their channels, usually one hour in the future, to enable those without recording abilities to resolve conflicts and those with recording abilities more flexibility in scheduling conflicting recordings. (See timeshift channel
Timeshift channel
A timeshift channel is a television channel carrying a time-delayed rebroadcast of its "parent" channel's output. This channel runs alongside their parent: the term "timeshift" does not refer to a network broadcasting at a later time to reflect a local timezone unless the parent is also available...
)
History in the United States
The legality of time-shifting programming in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was proved by the landmark court case of Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 , also known as the "Betamax case", is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States which ruled that the making of individual copies of complete television shows for purposes of time-shifting does not constitute copyright...
or the "Betamax case"). In 1979, Universal sued
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
Sony, claiming its timed recording capability amounted to "copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
."
Sony argued that the advent of its Betamax
Betamax
Betamax was a consumer-level analog videocassette magnetic tape recording format developed by Sony, released on May 10, 1975. The cassettes contain -wide videotape in a design similar to the earlier, professional wide, U-matic format...
video recorder in 1976 did not violate the copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
of the owners of shows which the device recorded. A district court found that noncommercial home use recording was considered fair use
Fair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
and ruled in favor of Sony. In appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
s, the United States Court of Appeals
United States court of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
reversed this decision in 1981 giving the edge to Universal, but the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
reversed it yet again in 1984, and found in favor of Sony 5-4. The majority decision held that time shifting was a fair use
Fair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
, represented no substantial harm to the copyright holder and would not contribute to a diminished marketplace for its product.
See also
- Personal video recorder
- Timeshift channelTimeshift channelA timeshift channel is a television channel carrying a time-delayed rebroadcast of its "parent" channel's output. This channel runs alongside their parent: the term "timeshift" does not refer to a network broadcasting at a later time to reflect a local timezone unless the parent is also available...
- Effects of time on North American broadcastingEffects of time on North American broadcastingThe scheduling of television programming in North America must cope with a continent spanning ten time zones: the United States has six time zones , Canada also has six , Mexico has three , Greenland also has...
- Format shiftingFormat shiftingFormat shifting is the conversion of media files into different formats. This may be required to play the media on different devices, for example when converting or ripping audio files on CDs into digital formats such as MP3...
- Space shiftingSpace shiftingSpace shifting , also known as place shifting , allows media, such as music or films, which is stored on one device to be accessed from another place through another device. Space shifting is frequently done through computer networks, for example by viewing a television broadcast from a WiFi...