What is Analog Sunset?

Analog Sunset refers to the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) license agreement adopted by content owners and device manufacturers to protect material recorded on Blu-ray Disc® media from being copied illegally.

The license agreement requires Blu-ray Disc players manufactured after December 31, 2010 to limit the resolution output through a component video cable to standard definition, 480i or 576i. Additionally, since January 1, 2011, the producers of Blu-ray Disc media can include an Image Constraint Token on the disc that prevents a high definition signal from being output through component video on a Blu-ray Disc player manufactured before the aforementioned date. After December 31, 2013, Blu-ray Disc players with component video output jacks will no longer be sold.

NOTE: To comply with this license agreement, Blu-ray Disc players by Sony manufactured from the beginning of 2011 only output 480i resolution through component video.