Log in
Register
Menu
Log in
Register
Home
What's new
Latest activity
Authors
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Members
Current visitors
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Sky Digital BSkyB, Freesat & Saorsat support forum
Sky & Freesat fringe reception
Phone 08702 430604 ?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Robbie34" data-source="post: 24842" data-attributes="member: 175566"><p>I wrote to the DCMS about the imminent switch off of FTV cards and here is the reply.</p><p></p><p>If they were flooded with posts then it may induce them to take an active interest in this. New Labour are influenced very heavily by what they perceive to be in their political interests. I'm sure they would be very worried if they thought they had p****d off potential New Labour voters.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: blue">Thank you for your e-mail of 31 July regarding free to view channels on satellite.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">Firstly, as you may know, most of the digital satellite programmes intended for reception in the UK are transmitted from the Astra 2A, 2B and 2D satellites, although a few services make use of the Eurobird 1 satellite. In May, the BBC services moved over from using Astra 2A to 2D. Astra 2A covers the UK together with a large part of continental Europe. Whereas Astra 2D has a tighter footprint covering, primarily the UK and Republic of Ireland, with some spillover into France and Benelux. As a result of these changes, it is now possible to view BBC services on digital satellite free-to-air without the need for a viewing card.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">BSkyB and the BBC announced on 13 June a five year agreement which includes the continued allocation to BBC1 and to BBC2 channel numbers 101 and 102 respectively on BSkyB's Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). As part of that agreement, the BBC is buying a regionalisation service from Sky to ensure that viewers with a Sky viewing card within the UK will continue to automatically receive the right national and regional versions of BBC1 and BBC2. But this will also enable digital satellite viewers to receive any of the BBC's national and regional services anywhere in the UK.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">The BBC agreement will end payment by the BBC to BSkyB for the provision of "Solus" viewing cards to digital satellite viewers who do not have a subscription to a pay-TV service.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">I appreciate your concerns as to whether this means consumers will have to subscribe to receive ITV, Channel 4 and Five in the future. As yet, no changes have been made to ITV, Channel 4 or Five. ITV continues to be transmitted form Astra 2D and Channel 4 and Five are on Astra 2A. These channels use the Sky conditional access system, so a viewing card is required. We are advised by the Independent Television Commission that their present conditional access agreements with Sky has some time to run. However, as things stand, BSkyB will not be sending new viewing cards to "Solus" card viewers as part of the card swap-out programme - unless a free-to-view broadcaster, other than the BBC, wishes to pay to provide replacement cards. Once the existing cards are disabled, access to these services will cease and in the longer term it could be that the commercial public service channels may consider alternative arrangements if they wish to continue to provide free-to view access to their services by satellite.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">I should clarify that there are provisions in the Communications Act 2003 to empower OfCom to require/approve the provision of arrangements to ensure reception of a 'must provide' satellite service (as defined in the Act and subject to modification by the Secretary of State) in those areas where it is not possible to receive digital public service channels by other means. However, we hope that this current situation can be satisfactorily resolved without the need to use legislation.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">Finally, you will wish to know that Tessa Jowell has written to the respective Chief Executives of ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BSkyB seeking clarification regarding their position over current and future free-to-view access to their services on digital satellite. We will publish the results of those enquiries on the digital television website <a href="http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk</a> as soon as it is possible to do so.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">I hope this has been of help to you.</span></p><p><span style="color: blue">Rachel Hitchman </span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue">Digital and Commercial Television Policy Advisor </span></p><p><span style="color: blue">Department for Culture Media and Sport </span></p><p><span style="color: blue">2-4 Cockspur Street </span></p><p><span style="color: blue">London SW1Y 5DH </span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p><p><span style="color: blue"></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Robbie34, post: 24842, member: 175566"] I wrote to the DCMS about the imminent switch off of FTV cards and here is the reply. If they were flooded with posts then it may induce them to take an active interest in this. New Labour are influenced very heavily by what they perceive to be in their political interests. I'm sure they would be very worried if they thought they had p****d off potential New Labour voters. [COLOR=blue]Thank you for your e-mail of 31 July regarding free to view channels on satellite. Firstly, as you may know, most of the digital satellite programmes intended for reception in the UK are transmitted from the Astra 2A, 2B and 2D satellites, although a few services make use of the Eurobird 1 satellite. In May, the BBC services moved over from using Astra 2A to 2D. Astra 2A covers the UK together with a large part of continental Europe. Whereas Astra 2D has a tighter footprint covering, primarily the UK and Republic of Ireland, with some spillover into France and Benelux. As a result of these changes, it is now possible to view BBC services on digital satellite free-to-air without the need for a viewing card. BSkyB and the BBC announced on 13 June a five year agreement which includes the continued allocation to BBC1 and to BBC2 channel numbers 101 and 102 respectively on BSkyB's Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). As part of that agreement, the BBC is buying a regionalisation service from Sky to ensure that viewers with a Sky viewing card within the UK will continue to automatically receive the right national and regional versions of BBC1 and BBC2. But this will also enable digital satellite viewers to receive any of the BBC's national and regional services anywhere in the UK. The BBC agreement will end payment by the BBC to BSkyB for the provision of "Solus" viewing cards to digital satellite viewers who do not have a subscription to a pay-TV service. I appreciate your concerns as to whether this means consumers will have to subscribe to receive ITV, Channel 4 and Five in the future. As yet, no changes have been made to ITV, Channel 4 or Five. ITV continues to be transmitted form Astra 2D and Channel 4 and Five are on Astra 2A. These channels use the Sky conditional access system, so a viewing card is required. We are advised by the Independent Television Commission that their present conditional access agreements with Sky has some time to run. However, as things stand, BSkyB will not be sending new viewing cards to "Solus" card viewers as part of the card swap-out programme - unless a free-to-view broadcaster, other than the BBC, wishes to pay to provide replacement cards. Once the existing cards are disabled, access to these services will cease and in the longer term it could be that the commercial public service channels may consider alternative arrangements if they wish to continue to provide free-to view access to their services by satellite. I should clarify that there are provisions in the Communications Act 2003 to empower OfCom to require/approve the provision of arrangements to ensure reception of a 'must provide' satellite service (as defined in the Act and subject to modification by the Secretary of State) in those areas where it is not possible to receive digital public service channels by other means. However, we hope that this current situation can be satisfactorily resolved without the need to use legislation. Finally, you will wish to know that Tessa Jowell has written to the respective Chief Executives of ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BSkyB seeking clarification regarding their position over current and future free-to-view access to their services on digital satellite. We will publish the results of those enquiries on the digital television website [url]www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk[/url] as soon as it is possible to do so. I hope this has been of help to you. Rachel Hitchman Digital and Commercial Television Policy Advisor Department for Culture Media and Sport 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH [/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Sky Digital BSkyB, Freesat & Saorsat support forum
Sky & Freesat fringe reception
Phone 08702 430604 ?
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top
