spiney wrote:
: It's partly to "encourage" you to use the various interactive services,

It is actually mainly so you can buy PPV movies and events. These are stored
on the smartcard and only reported back to Sky (on an free 0800 number)
once a month.

: The box does dometimes make a random call, to check the phone line's
: connected.

No it doesn't. It gets this fact from the monthly PPV (or lack of!) reporting
call

: I've also heard it rumoured that the box collects viewing information
: and sends it back to Sky. Possibly, who knows, has anyone put a
: breakout box on one of these "calls"?

This myth has been comprehensively debunked on numerous occasions.

"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
spiney wrote:
: It's partly to "encourage" you to use the various interactive services,

It is actually mainly so you can buy PPV movies and events. These are
stored
on the smartcard and only reported back to Sky (on an free 0800 number)
once a month.

: The box does dometimes make a random call, to check the phone line's
: connected.

No it doesn't. It gets this fact from the monthly PPV (or lack of!)
reporting
call

: I've also heard it rumoured that the box collects viewing information
: and sends it back to Sky. Possibly, who knows, has anyone put a
: breakout box on one of these "calls"?

This myth has been comprehensively debunked on numerous occasions.

Sky have a viewing panel of several thousand households, who have a special
Sky box that does this. Ordinary ones dont. Its always possible that the
rumour has originated from such a source.

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