Freesat: Free satellite TV by BBC and ITV tv to launch!

Originally Posted by Losttheplot

A Sky HD box from ebay will give BBC, Luxe HD (!) and C4 HD once the card is transferred, plus more channels than Freesat (at the moment).
At the moment with Freesat he'd have to be happy with BBC HD and Luxe HD (!)

True, but very short-term thinking, for a number of reasons:

1. eBay. Would you, really? I've never bought 2nd hand electronics off there and I never would. And I *definitely* would never buy a Sky box off eBay, with the number of viewing card scams that are out there.

2. ITV HD will not be on Sky. Which has p***ed James Murdoch off no end. He don't like it up 'im, Cap'n Mainwaring, Sir!

3. The iPlayer will not be on Sky.

4. Quantity of channels is not an issue, because the channels currently on FreesatfromSky will progressively start appearing on Freesat as and when any rights issues are resolved.

Originally Posted by Chris T

Sorry, there's more than one Freesat thread going on, I'm getting confused what I've answered where.

The BBC and ITV insisted on specifying an ethernet port so they can offer VOD-like services via the red-button, and a broadband return path which allows good quality interactive applications that don't require a phone line for dial-up.

A version of the BBC iPlayer and the joint-venture equivalent (called Kangaroo, and involving BBC, ITV and C4) are being developed for Freesat.

A Mod should do a Freesat sticky!

OK, I've never ever, used interactive on any platform. I use my STB for TV, and have laptops for surfing the web.

It will be interesting to see whether Freesats MHEG provides a big difference in interactive apps over Sky's (Kudelski supplied) OpenTV, I believe the Freesat EPG is also MHEG.

I also wonder how long Sky's use of the ethernet ports on HD boxes will be away. I know they are looking at using it.

---------- Post added at 21:04 ---------- Previous post was at 20:59 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris T

True, but very short-term thinking, for a number of reasons:

1. eBay. Would you, really? I've never bought 2nd hand electronics off there and I never would. And I *definitely* would never buy a Sky box off eBay, with the number of viewing card scams that are out there.

2. ITV HD will not be on Sky. Which has p***ed James Murdoch off no end. He don't like it up 'im, Cap'n Mainwaring, Sir!

3. The iPlayer will not be on Sky.

4. Quantity of channels is not an issue, because the channels currently on FreesatfromSky will progressively start appearing on Freesat as and when any rights issues are resolved.

Theres another way of looking at the ITV HD thing. ITV have deprived themselves of advertising revenue on HD programmes of over 200,000! At this time ITV are also struggling to make money from advertising (they bought Friends Reunited in a failed attempt to find additional revenue sources). I know for a fact Sky offered to provide red button access to ITV HD on their existing system.

[the-cable-guy]

Originally Posted by Losttheplot

A Sky HD box from ebay will give BBC, Luxe HD (!) and C4 HD once the card is transferred, plus more channels than Freesat (at the moment).
At the moment with Freesat he'd have to be happy with BBC HD and Luxe HD (!)

plus their cheaper from eBay then direct from Sky.

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:53 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris T

True, but very short-term thinking, for a number of reasons:

1. eBay. Would you, really? I've never bought 2nd hand electronics off there and I never would. And I *definitely* would never buy a Sky box off eBay, with the number of viewing card scams that are out there.

2. ITV HD will not be on Sky. Which has p***ed James Murdoch off no end. He don't like it up 'im, Cap'n Mainwaring, Sir!

3. The iPlayer will not be on Sky.

4. Quantity of channels is not an issue, because the channels currently on FreesatfromSky will progressively start appearing on Freesat as and when any rights issues are resolved.

unless you make silly mistakes eBay is very safe i got my Sky receiver from eBay with a free viewing card.

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:55 ----------

Originally Posted by Losttheplot

Theres another way of looking at the ITV HD thing. ITV have deprived themselves of advertising revenue on HD programmes of over 200,000! At this time ITV are also struggling to make money from advertising (they bought Friends Reunited in a failed attempt to find additional revenue sources). I know for a fact Sky offered to provide red button access to ITV HD on their existing system.

also dont Sky have shares in ITV ?

---------- Post added at 21:56 ---------- Previous post was at 21:55 ----------

Originally Posted by Losttheplot

A Mod should do a Freesat sticky!

OK, I've never ever, used interactive on any platform. I use my STB for TV, and have laptops for surfing the web.

It will be interesting to see whether Freesats MHEG provides a big difference in interactive apps over Sky's (Kudelski supplied) OpenTV, I believe the Freesat EPG is also MHEG.

OpenTV is the standard across the world.

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

plus their cheaper from eBay then direct from Sky.

unless you make silly mistakes eBay is very safe i got my Sky receiver from eBay with a free viewing card.

I admire your confidence and wish you never to stumble across a less than honest seller.

also dont Sky have shares in ITV ?

They do, although they have been ordered to sell them due to competition issues.

However they don't own enough shares in ITV to force them to provide ITV HD to the Sky platform.

ITV HD will not be provided to Sky until ITV is content that it has gained maximum advantage from having it exclusively on Freesat. Much the same way as Sky has always treated the cable companies with its own new channels really.

OpenTV is the standard across the world.

Open TV is not a standard. It's a widely-used but proprietory system. Freesat uses MHEG because this is the same platform as was deployed for Freeview, making it quicker and cheaper to port interactive content between the two.

[the-cable-guy]

I admire your confidence and wish you never to stumble across a less than honest seller.

so according to you everyone on eBay is dodgy ?

They do, although they have been ordered to sell them due to competition issues.

thats what i heard also.

Open TV is not a standard. It's a widely-used but proprietory system. Freesat uses MHEG because this is the same platform as was deployed for Freeview, making it quicker and cheaper to port interactive content between the two.

if you research OpenTV you will find that it is the standard.

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

so according to you everyone on eBay is dodgy ?

No, don't think I said that.

if you research OpenTV you will find that it is the standard.

I have. Even OpenTV refrains from calling its STB software a 'standard'. The company's Wikipedia entry doesn't, either.

If OpenTV doesn't claim it's a standard, and its Wikipedia editor's don't claim it's a standard, perhaps you should do some research ... on the correct use of the word 'standard'?

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by Chris T

True, but very short-term thinking, for a number of reasons:

2. ITV HD will not be on Sky. Which has p***ed James Murdoch off no end. He don't like it up 'im, Cap'n Mainwaring, Sir!

Not necessarily true. At some point in time ITV HD will likely be on Sky and Virgin - it's just not right now. But to say that it will not be on Sky is perhaps a little final?

Same as....

Originally Posted by Chris T

3. The iPlayer will not be on Sky.

Again, I think when the Sky box has such a capability or is made to open up their platform to third party software or whatever happens next, then iPlayer is likely to appear.

It may not be this year or even next year...but both the above are, IMHO, probable to appear.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by Chris T

True, but very short-term thinking, for a number of reasons:

1. eBay. Would you, really? I've never bought 2nd hand electronics off there and I never would. And I *definitely* would never buy a Sky box off eBay, with the number of viewing card scams that are out there.

Not everything on eBay is second hand.

Plenty of sellers sell new stuff too.

I bought my Sky HD box - brand new- from eBay for just over half what Sky charge, from a reputable dealer.

Nice & cheap, plus meant I wasn't locked into paying Sky's £10/month HD tax.

[the-cable-guy]

Originally Posted by Chris T

No, don't think I said that.

you implied it.

Originally Posted by Chris T

I have. Even OpenTV refrains from calling its STB software a 'standard'. The company's Wikipedia entry doesn't, either.

If OpenTV doesn't claim it's a standard, and its Wikipedia editor's don't claim it's a standard, perhaps you should do some research ... on the correct use of the word 'standard'?

try researching a little more then

---------- Post added at 03:58 ---------- Previous post was at 03:57 ----------

Originally Posted by Matt D

Not everything on eBay is second hand.

Plenty of sellers sell new stuff too.

I bought my Sky HD box - brand new- from eBay for just over half what Sky charge, from a reputable dealer.

Nice & cheap, plus meant I wasn't locked into paying Sky's £10/month HD tax.

good point iv brought many items from eBay both new & old for very good places. also sites like Amazon are good & cheap for mostly new items.

Originally Posted by andygrif

Not necessarily true. At some point in time ITV HD will likely be on Sky and Virgin - it's just not right now. But to say that it will not be on Sky is perhaps a little final?

You might have a point had you not overlooked the fact that I also posted this last night:

Originally Posted by Chris T

ITV HD will not be provided to Sky until ITV is content that it has gained maximum advantage from having it exclusively on Freesat. Much the same way as Sky has always treated the cable companies with its own new channels really.

I very much agree with you, ITV HD will be on Sky eventually ... we just have no idea when. And seeing as Freesat is expected to grow organically (hence the low-key launch) rather than with a quick, rapid uptake, I'd guess ITV will expect there to be reasons *not* to put themselves on Sky for a fair while yet.

Again, I think when the Sky box has such a capability or is made to open up their platform to third party software or whatever happens next, then iPlayer is likely to appear.

It may not be this year or even next year...but both the above are, IMHO, probable to appear.

Again, I agree. However, whichever way it plays out, Freesat is a good thing. If Sky is forced to behave in a more open and competitive manner, everyone wins, and it will have been thanks to Freesat acting as a catalyst. As someone pointed out, there are ethernet ports on the back of Sky+ boxes. How long has that been part of the hardware spec? Since launch? How many years ago? And yet they have done nothing about it. To this day, there is no active software loaded into the box that will allow you to connect your Sky+ box to your home LAN.

Sky has become indolent because it doesn't believe it has to innovate to stay ahead of the game. Until now, it was the only satellite game in town. Well, now, there's competition. This is a good thing. And it's thanks to Freesat.

---------- Post added at 16:10 ---------- Previous post was at 16:08 ----------

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

you implied it.

If you say so.

try researching a little more then

No thanks. I've quoted two reputable sources which say I'm right and you're wrong - if you still insist you're right, it's your turn to show us some proof.

[the-cable-guy]

yes i do say so & if you cant search then thats upto you init.

Originally Posted by the-cable-guy

yes i do say so & if you cant search then thats upto you init.

Whatever you say, chief.

[the-cable-guy]

yes i do say

[bonehead]

thank you all for the info. i will try to tune in freesat on skybox for time being,had a look for the humax hd box,no one seems to have any,not a problem yet as i still have 30 days with sky
once again thanks for info,cheers

Originally Posted by Chris T

I very much agree with you, ITV HD will be on Sky eventually ... we just have no idea when. And seeing as Freesat is expected to grow organically (hence the low-key launch) rather than with a quick, rapid uptake, I'd guess ITV will expect there to be reasons *not* to put themselves on Sky for a fair while yet.

For a company that makes its money selling adverts I can't see how ITV depriving themselves of 200,000 or so Sky HD subs is a good business idea.