UK Freesat closer to launch

[the_happy_traveller]

I think the epg on the freesat boxes will sell them. After all, most peeps will prefer the easier to use option.
Plus, a lot of ex sky users wil be used to 7 day listings.
I only have "now and next" on my 28e box (SL65) which is fine for me, but I could imagine would not suit a lot of people.

 

[dxsat]

The Freesat article on the Astra 2D.com website has misled a number of people. Just for the record, (I am a moderator on the 2D forum), the info on it has no official weight at all, consisting of the opinions of a number of enthusiasts.

It's been stated by the BBC that the system will not have viewing cards and will be subscription- free.
From the BBC website:
" The BBC and ITV are planning to launch a new free-to-view satellite service, currently known as Freesat, in spring 2008. If you already have a non-Sky satellite receiver, the channels are the same as those you can already receive."
Source:-http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/news/index.shtml

You will have to go through a set- up procedure, entering your postcode to enable the right regional programming. What no - one can say at present if there will be a check to see if the TV licence is being paid at the address given.Does anyone have an opinion on this?

I believe Freesat will be a huge success if the EPG is right.

I wouldn't mind betting that the EPG will look something like tvtv.co.uk currently provide. I subscribe to this for my EYE tv tuner. It's superior to the Sky guide.
There are full 14-day listings, reliable movie reviews and it includes radio listings, enabling advance recording.

 

[sat345rg]

What no - one can say at present if there will be a check to see if the TV licence is being paid at the address given.Does anyone have an opinion on this?

As no phone connection will be required for freesat,I can't see how they can check this.

 

[geoffreys]

As no phone connection will be required for freesat,I can't see how they can check this.

How would having a phone connexion enable them to check??
An address given can easily be checked against the TV Licence database, should they wish/decide to check.
Geoff

 

[PaulR]

What worries me is that recently (about 2 - 3 weeks ago) I am sure I read that ITV will NOT allow people to tune in to an out of region ITV channel (as they can on a Dodgybox). I wish I could find the source again as I don't know how on earth they could force this.

Anyone else heard this one?

 

[rolfw]

I can see why they'd want to, as regionally targeted advertising is important to them, but I would have thought that a pick your own region would be a great and popular option.

 

[keano]

I think its a case of where you buy the official receiver.

Remember the official receiver is mpeg4 also.

So if you buy the official receiver in comet in the North West then you will get ITV Granada.

If you buy receiver in the midlands then you get ITV Central.

They might even let you pick your region from setup menu, then again maybe not but you never know.

 

[PaulR]

I'm beginning to think I dreamed this one!

I also can't see it would be done and anyway, let's face it, most people WANT their own region.

 

[mickc]

I'm a little ignorant to the proposed "freesat",can someone enlighten me?
At present I use a Sky box with Freesat card (the card with the little house on it) which I acquired a few years ago "free" from the BBC.
My questions are:-
Will I get Channels 4 & 5,sky 3,without the use of a "card"
Will I get programmes that are currently on "Freeview" but not avilable on "freesat" at the present time? eg: "Dave" "Virgin"(currently only available with subscription)
Is there a list? of proposed "freesat" channels available anywhere?

 

[rolfw]

You'll probably have to wait a while for a channel list, not sure about Five (probably not) and Sky3, but I'm pretty sure that Sky will not want to miss the opportunity of having some channels on the Freesat platform EPG.

 

[PaulR]

There's another aspect (beneficial) of the Freesat EPG that I haven't seen commented upon.

At present the radio channels are subjected to frequent changes on the $ly PID randomiser. This doesn't affect Digibox users as these are all dealt with by the Digibox software but really pi$$e$ off all those (usually oversees) listeners who use FTA satellite receivers. I'm sure that the TV channels also suffer from this occasionally.

Perhaps the new EPG will keep this under control?

 

[sat345rg]

I'm a little ignorant to the proposed "freesat",can someone enlighten me?
At present I use a Sky box with Freesat card (the card with the little house on it) which I acquired a few years ago "free" from the BBC.
My questions are:-
Will I get Channels 4 & 5,sky 3,without the use of a "card"
Will I get programmes that are currently on "Freeview" but not avilable on "freesat" at the present time? eg: "Dave" "Virgin"(currently only available with subscription)
Is there a list? of proposed "freesat" channels available anywhere?

Freesat will not give you any more channel that you currently receive with your digibox plus card.
This means subscription channels,like those you mentioned,will not be available even if they are on freeview.
Furthermore,with freesat you won't get the encrypted non-subscription channels,such as five or sky3,for which a card and digibox will still be required.

 

[David J Robinson]

Freesat closer to launch? Well, in the same sense that the day when the sun will die and swallow up the Earth is closer than it was yesterday, I suppose so...

Just playing devil's advocate here, surely any system that doesn't get Channel 4 AND Channel 5 will be dead in the water. How many people, apart from us anoraks, would invest in such a system? And Channel 5 have shown no interest in joining Freesat or going FTA.

 

[rolfw]

You will get the Channel 4 group of channels, it will only be Channel 5 in the short term which remains encrypted and that being because they are under contract as far as I know.

 

[Analoguesat]

As far as I am aware the C4 encryption contracts expire this summer sometime but C5 is contracted until mid 2009.

Now its anyones guess if Sky could be persuaded (financially or otherwise) to allow those contracts to be voided or changed, but if they do Im certain a LOT of money will have to change hands.

However, a contract is a contract and the tv scene was very different when those contracts were originally signed.

 

[rolfw]

I wonder about the encryption contracts, so if you are happy to pay until the end of the contract, but not take up the encryption, surely that would be acceptable. For Channel 4, there has got to be an advantage to being available at the launch.

 

[Yeshi]

I wonder about the encryption contracts, so if you are happy to pay until the end of the contract, but not take up the encryption, surely that would be acceptable. For Channel 4, there has got to be an advantage to being available at the launch.

Yeah because big brother starts just after the launch lmao..

TBH theyre keeping this hole system quiet.. we dont really know whats going to happen until its up and running..

as for regional, for them to not let people change their region is going to be hard to enforce..

They could enforce with a postcode but if you really wanted wouldnt a simple postcode change just do the trick??

And to set the region at the factory is dangerous... they should realise that people move around all the time.. to diferent regions... this isnt 1920 britain lol it wouldnt work :|

 

[PaulR]

I wonder about the encryption contracts, so if you are happy to pay until the end of the contract, but not take up the encryption, surely that would be acceptable. For Channel 4, there has got to be an advantage to being available at the launch.

It's not to $ly's advantage to let C4 out of the contract. Just look at how they won't even let More 4 and E4 be available as FTV channels.

 

[sat345rg]

Channel five still has an interest in encryption because of the many American programs(including sports)
they broadcast.In fact the holders of these rights would ask much more money if five should go FTA,even on Astra2D.

 

[rolfw]

It's not to $ly's advantage to let C4 out of the contract. Just look at how they won't even let More 4 and E4 be available as FTV channels.

I'm not suggesting that they be let out of the contract. merely that they pay until the end, but don't take the services of encryption. Of course, it does depend on the exact nature of the contract as to how easy that would be.