Sky Picnic - Pay DTT + broadband + Phone

[Matt D]

Sky have revealed more about their (previously discussed) plans for their existing Freeview channels, along with news about new broadband & phone services.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcas...src=rss&feed=4

http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-n...s-service.html

They aim to remove their current three Freeview channels, & replace them with PayTV channels, under the "Picnic" brand.

Subject to Ofcom approval, they also want to then switch to using MPEG-4 (presumably part 10 / H.264 / AVC), in place of MPEG-2, so that they can squeeze a fourth channel on DTT.

This would require a brand new STB, as current Freeview boxes do not support MPEG-4.

It would also presumably require a new STB anyway, as I would have thought that Sky would require any pay content on DTT to be protected by their own proprietary conditional access system, like with Sky Digital satellite TV.


They are also planning "Picnic Broadband", which like Sky Broadband would use their Easynet LLU network, but unlike Sky BB would be available to people who do not have Sky Digital satellite TV.

[RealDiamond]

It will require a card won't it, So you will need a new box as how many built in/Freeview boxes have the card slot still in them.
splitting channels on to the same frequency, boo. so its only 3 channels .

[Matt D]

Some do.

But, yeah, it would definitely need a new box anyway. MPEG-4 support + presumably Sky's CA system.


LOL, & it does actually say in the stories it would use a brand new Sagem box anyway. I missed that bit!

[Paul]

Yep you have to buy the box...... and guess where you but it from

[dragon]

So will sky satellite customers be able to get this at a discounted rate for the channels instead of rewiring the house for multiroom?

Bet not.