The situation is still ridiculous though. Streaming is no longer easier than piracy.
You may be able to get away with just an HDMI dummy plug:
https://www.amazon.com/4K-HDMI-Dummy-Plug-3840x2160/dp/B07FB...
I'm not sure if these dummy plugs handle HDCP. If not you can use one in combination with this splitter:
https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-l-b-y-Vision-Atmos-Scaler/dp...
I own this splitter and know for a fact that it handles the HDCP negotiation. But I think it needs a display attached.
Or, you can just pirate it and not have to put up with any of this BS.
Re-reading what ladzoppelin wrote, I made an assumption that was probably incorrect. I thought they were saying that having an HDCP-compliant TV attached allowed them to watch DRM-protected content on their non-HDCP-compliant primary display. But in retrospect, probably they are watching the DRM content on the TV.
In that case they don't need an HDMI dummy plug at all. They could instead use the splitter I linked between their computer and the non-HDCP compliant display (assuming it's connected over HDMI and not DisplayPort) to fool their computer into thinking the display is HDCP-compliant. Then they can play the DRM content on either their primary display or the TV.
AFAIK, DRM video playback over AirPlay only works from within iOS apps that explicitly support AirPlay[1], not via generic iOS/macOS screen mirroring.
So on vacation I tried to airplay mission impossible from amazon rental to the TV, and the screen just went black for copy-protection. So I refunded my rental and torrented it instead.
I don't usually torrent, but sometimes the ecosystems put it squarely in my self interest.
(Also, for whatever it's worth I have netflix active about 1 month a year because I find their recent content so unimpressive, but perhaps I'm not the target audience)