BBC/ITV Freesat website launched

In uk.tech.tv.sky Michael Chare wrote:

: Take a look at the recent threads over on digitalspy. Someone has a
: pre-production STBs

Yes - and he believes that the presence of Channel 4 and Five (and all
the other C4 channels) on his pre-production EPG means that they will be
present on the real one at launch!

"Mark Carver" wrote in message
...
On Dec 3, 10:58 am, Brian McIlwrath wrote:

Note that while the EPG data will be from Eurobird all the current FTA
channels will stay where they are - except some will want to move to
Astra
2D - which is more tightly focussed on the UK

AIUI some of the EPG/SI data will have to be carried on the Astra
birds, otherwise how would single tuner receivers keep tabs on the
data if they spent extended periods tuned to Astra ?


I would have thought most domestic installations would not be able to tell
whether a signal was being received from 28.2E or 28.5E (apart from any
idenifiers that may be trasmitted or internal tables)

AIUI only PVRs with a 'Freesat' label will be able to use the 7day EPG which
will come from Eurobird. The 7 day EPG data will not be in a channel's
broadcast stream as it is for German stations such as RTL.

Presumably though each channel's broadcast stream will include the
interactive stuff in MHEG format.

--
Michael Chare

"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...


Finally currently all the cheap satellite system installations involve
subscribing to Sky.

On the downside NOT all channels currently on Freeview will be on Freesat.

: Without any subscription the Sky box will receive all of the 'Freesat'
: channels PLUS Ch.4, Ch5, and other FTV channels which Freesat will NOT
: receive (assuming, of course, that a FTV card is used).


Sorry I get the satellite broadcasts without a subcription.
On both a Sky box and a NON- Sky box, NOW!

This web site says I need a new box for this service, a real let down.

Regards
David

"Clive." wrote in message
...
In message
,
Mark Carver writes
If the deal was no ongoing subscription of any kind, why on earth
should they need your bank account details ?
I'm already with Sky, I'm just going to keep an eye on my statements
to make sure they don't charge me for the + part, £10pm?
--
Clive.

As an additional safeguard, you could instruct your bank to cancel all
direct debits in favour of Sky Digital. There is no reason why they
could object to the cancellation, provided you owe them nothing.

In uk.tech.digital-tv Michael Chare wrote:
:
: AIUI some of the EPG/SI data will have to be carried on the Astra
: birds, otherwise how would single tuner receivers keep tabs on the
: data if they spent extended periods tuned to Astra ?

On Sky the EPG is on a separate transponder (like Freesat will be) but each
chnanel (or rather transponder) also carries limited data for the Sky
"Search and Scan" functionality - it is to be seen if Freesat also has its
own version of this.

: I would have thought most domestic installations would not be able to tell
: whether a signal was being received from 28.2E or 28.5E (apart from any
: idenifiers that may be trasmitted or internal tables)

They cannot! To a domestic receiver Eurobird and the Astra satellites are
co-located.

In uk.tech.digital-tv Bob Lucas wrote:
: As an additional safeguard, you could instruct your bank to cancel all
: direct debits in favour of Sky Digital. There is no reason why they
: could object to the cancellation, provided you owe them nothing.

That's drastic! Many people accuse Sky of many things - but impropriety
in finance is not one. They will always refund any accidental overpayment.

"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
In uk.tech.digital-tv Michael Chare
wrote:

Sky "Search and Scan" functionality

What does that do?

--
Michael Chare

In uk.tech.digital-tv Michael Chare wrote:
:
: Sky "Search and Scan" functionality

: What does that do?

On any channel - and without changing to the EPG - any use of the arrow keys
on the remote brings up an overlay which can be used to see what is coming
up in the current channel (or any other) for about 8 hours ahead.

Brian McIlwrath wrote:
In uk.tech.tv.sky Adrian A wrote:

Since five re-introduced dogs I'm not bothered about them, I hope C4
goes FTA soon and their HD channel is DOG free.

Given that the BBC HD channel has a Dog I wouldn't hold out too much
hope! The only possible hope is that C4HD will be a simulcast (like
Sky One) of HD material and (much!) upscaled SD.

I was wondering if BBC HD still had a DOG after its official start at the
weekend.

David wrote:
"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...


Finally currently all the cheap satellite system installations
involve subscribing to Sky.

On the downside NOT all channels currently on Freeview will be on
Freesat.
Without any subscription the Sky box will receive all of the
'Freesat' channels PLUS Ch.4, Ch5, and other FTV channels which
Freesat will NOT receive (assuming, of course, that a FTV card is
used).


Sorry I get the satellite broadcasts without a subcription.
On both a Sky box and a NON- Sky box, NOW!

This web site says I need a new box for this service, a real let down.

You will only need a new box if you want the Freesat EPG.