UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 23, Page 9
March 9, 1995
VCRs may affect movie reception on SLTV

     SLTV-49 has received a number of calls regarding why some of the
movies broadcast on the channel show drastic changes in picture
contrast and brightness.
     Movies produced by Universal, Disney and their affiliate studios
have a copy protection signal embedded in them called Macrovision.
This signal shows up as a drastic change in color and, at times, the
picture will actually roll. Macrovision is used by studios to prevent
pirating.
     As long as the campus cable is connected directly to a television
set, users will not experience this problem. Distortion occurs when a
student has the cable connected through a VCR. Even if the VCR is not
recording, but being used as a tuner to change channels for the
television, the problem will still occur.
     Anyone experiencing these technical difficulties should set the
VCR/TV switch on the VCR to the TV position. This will allow the
signal to bypass the VCR and send the cable channels directly to the
television. If the TV set is not equipped to receive all cable
channels, and the VCR is used as a tuner because it is cable capable,
the problem will continue.