Simon Gardner wrote:
In article ,
"Mark Carver" wrote:

Because the payments for programming rights for FTA satellite
transmission, are more than the cost of FTV encryption. Even more of
a problem for C4 and 5 because they are not on Astra 2D (which has a
much tighter footprint), although of course the Beeb have managed
it. (excluding the issues relating to Scottish PL football, and some
Hollywood film studios)

How do you know the BBC has "managed it" (ie won't be paying out more
in rights costs than it saves in encryption costs?

Because if not, they'd be cutting their nose, to spite their face......wouldn't they ? ;-)

(Rhetorical question)

In article ,
"Mark Carver" wrote:

Simon Gardner wrote:
In article ,
"Mark Carver" wrote:

Because the payments for programming rights for FTA satellite
transmission, are more than the cost of FTV encryption. Even more of
a problem for C4 and 5 because they are not on Astra 2D (which has a
much tighter footprint), although of course the Beeb have managed
it. (excluding the issues relating to Scottish PL football, and some
Hollywood film studios)

How do you know the BBC has "managed it" (ie won't be paying out more
in rights costs than it saves in encryption costs)?

Because if not, they'd be cutting their nose, to spite their face......wouldn't
they ? ;-)

(Rhetorical question)

Well, to spite Murdoch, in any case.

Mark Carver wrote:

Because the payments for programming rights for FTA satellite transmission,
are more than the cost of FTV encryption.

There is no evidence of this that I know of. There is no evidence that
the BBC generally pay any more for programming today than they did
last year, though there may be some rare and particular instances of
changes due to rights issues (notably to some boring sports fixtures).

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/tez5
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

rnet[dot]co[dot]uk (Simon Gardner) wrote:

just out of interest, why arent they?

Because of rights agreements and issues that mean they must encrypt. Cost
of encryption is cheaper than the [rights] costs of not encrypting.

This is speculation. Or do you have some figures to back it up?

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/tez5
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

spammy wrote:

just out of interest, why arent they?

One of the main reasons is that the three FTV channels have existing
contracts for encryption. C5's is for 5 years (IIRC) and so they are
unlikely to change, especially as they will probably be owned by Sky
soon anyway.
ITV have stated that they will be examining the case for FTA
broadcasting when the current encryption agreement with Sky expires
(2004). They are partially hamstrung (a common situation for business
"partners" of News Corp) by the fact that ITV2 is a pay channel on
Sky.
C4 are straddling the fence and saying nothing. Probably because they
also are hamstrung by FilmFour and E4.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/tez5
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

Jomtien wrote:
spammy wrote:

just out of interest, why arent they?

One of the main reasons is that the three FTV channels have existing
contracts for encryption. C5's is for 5 years (IIRC) and so they are
unlikely to change, especially as they will probably be owned by Sky
soon anyway.

C5 have the additional problem that Sky also provide their uplink to
Astra. ITV and C4 both contract NTL to provide this.

ITV have stated that they will be examining the case for FTA
broadcasting when the current encryption agreement with Sky expires
(2004). They are partially hamstrung (a common situation for business
"partners" of News Corp) by the fact that ITV2 is a pay channel on
Sky.

Only to offset their encryption costs for ITV-1. It will be interesting to
see what happens next year. If the bottom line cost of FTA transmission
is *genuinely* cheaper than FTV, they'll go FTA. ITV's only function these
days is to make money.

Yes I agree with "jomtien"

I expect it was just a sales pitch... another of my gripes if it is just a
service cost of £23.... why does a pub have to pay more for the card... £105

Does a pub have to pay more if it broadcast BBC1 analogue?


"Jomtien" wrote in message
...
IOOA wrote:

They said they only dealt with ex subscription cards but said both P1 &
P2
cards would be turned off

If so I would have expected to see some on-screen warning by now.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/tez5
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

Mark Carver wrote:

One of the main reasons is that the three FTV channels have existing
contracts for encryption. C5's is for 5 years (IIRC) and so they are
unlikely to change, especially as they will probably be owned by Sky
soon anyway.

C5 have the additional problem that Sky also provide their uplink to
Astra. ITV and C4 both contract NTL to provide this.

That's very true though the uplink deal doesn't tie them in with Sky
in any other way.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/tez5
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

IOOA wrote:
Yes I agree with "jomtien"

I expect it was just a sales pitch... another of my gripes if it is
just a service cost of £23.... why does a pub have to pay more for
the card... £105

Does a pub have to pay more if it broadcast BBC1 analogue?

Strictly speaking any 'public performance' of a radio or TV broadcast
requires a PRS (Performing Rights Society ?) licence. A while ago a
number of factories and work places were approached to provide
a licence, simply because they had the radio playing over the PA.

Though I expect Sky's £105 charge, is nothing more than greed.