HDCP required? what does this mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection

You require an HDCP compatible TV before HDCP protected content can be played. Most modern TVs are compatible, if yours is, you might want to try another HDMI cable.

i download tv shows to my laptop and then hook it up to my samsung LCD with a thunderbolt (minidisplay port) to vga adapter (apple's adapter). i've been doing this sucessfully for a while, and all the sudden last night i got a warning about itunes won't play my video through the TV becuase the diplay has to be HDCP compliant (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection).

i've used this tv before, it's a fairly new (under 2 years old) tv. does my TV need a software update.

did the latest itunes update 10.4.1 (10) cause this new HDCP problem?

HDCP does not function over VGA or other analog connections, only over compliant digital connections.

It's possible that you've never encountered this problem becauswe none of the other content was HDCP-protected (i'm just thinking here, I don't know the likelihood or other details of your media).

Try using a digital connection if you can, either DVI or HDMI (with the proper adapter, if necessary).

I suggest everyone report their experience with this ATV feedback form:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

You are responding to a thread that is 5 months old. Also if one is using non compliant hardware that is the issue