BBC/ITV Freesat Spring 2008

[cactusman]

Does this mean that the BBC and ITV channels that we can currently receive FTA at 28.2 etc will be removed by the BBC /ITV when they launch their own satellite boxes etc in the spring 2008.
or
Will they use the same channels but simply encrypt them etc to get some scheckles out of us having paid for the licence fee anyway.(wont get heavy on that point yet).

Cactusman

[imported_Newbee]

It could mean that our freesat boxs for 28 .2 will become door stops

[Analoguesat]

Pessamist

The BBC & ITV arent going anywhere - for starters they cannot possibly afford to throw away the viewers in 8million or more Sky households.

BBC Freesat will just be another set of fta boxes that have a few tweaks (probably a better epg system than is currently available on fta boxes (now and next and not a lot else)

[cactusman]

I Hope that you are right,it would seem a little pointless of the setup of the three companies(BBC,ITV,C4) ,in competition with Sky then to leave their channels on the Sky platform .After all Virgin lost their programmes when turned off by Sky,would seem a little poetic justice would it not...time will tell,,,,,
Unless the removal from the Sky output would occur on the expire of the current contract period.

[BGonaSTICK]

I'm sure you'll find that nothing of this kind will happen.

1) They won't go encrypted
2) They won't change beam
3) They won't leave Sky or the Sky EPG
4) They won't change transponder (though it won't really matter if they did)
5) They will still be available via the Sky digibox
6) They won't move position on the Sky EPG

All that is happening is that a new set of set-top boxes will become available and a marketing campaign will commence on exactly the same lines as Freeview for terrestrial.

These new boxes will be available to buy on the high street, and will be nothing to do with Sky. A poor (but better than nothing) EPG will be available, and there will obviously need to be a network of installers on hand to help people get up and running.

That's it AFAIC, so don't panic. It's purely a marketing strategy, some kudos for the parties involved, and another opportunity for the hardware manufacturers to sell some kit.

Also a huge opportunity for us here at Satellite Help to get these people sorted out.

It's great news, and I can't wait for there finally to be at least some alternative to Sky, even if it isn't 'new'.

It will be news to millions of people across the UK though, and that's what matters. This is when Digital Switchover finally gets some teeth in the satellite world!

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