2008/10/17 Andrew Bowden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of *Brian Butterworth > Given there are no companies that have both unencrypted and unencrypted > channels on the EPG, it would still seem th at rule is part of Sky's > contacts... > > Sky have unencrypted and encrypted channels - Sky News is Free to Air :o) >
That simply points outs that Sky provides themselves unfair access and cross-subsidize their businesses! > > I'm also going to presume you meant subscription and non-subscription > channels as well, as some regional variations of ITV1 are also encrypted > because they don't sit on Astra 2D, and due to legacy contractual issues, > there are free to air and free to view versions of some Channel 4 owned > channels. > Yes, Sky are actually encrypting the ITV channels for free. > > I'm not entirely sure how much FTV channels (FTA and FTV could be said to > be the satellite version of freedom of speech and beer :) have to pay > for EPG fees, but they do have to pay for the encryption - when the BBC went > in the clear, it saved enough money from not paying encryption, to pay for > all the missing regional variations to be broadcast. > There is a public-domain document out there showing how Sky give significant discounts on the EPG to broadcasters using the encryption services from SSSL. I do know about the BBC stopping using encryption.... The odd thing for Sky is that as broadband speeds go up, satellite delivery for TV programmes looks like an out of date idea. > > > This is why, for example, Five can't just jump onto Freesat, because it > has to do Fiver and Five US at the same time! > > I suspect Five have a blanket deal that says all their channels are FTV - > CHannel 4 certainly had something on those lines. > -- Brian Butterworth http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
