ITV HD in surprise move

[Analoguesat]

ITV HD will not be available on Sky


Can I use my existing set-top box?
No, to get ITV HD you’ll need a freesat digital box or TV with freesat HD built in - look for the freesat logo on the product. You’ll also need a satellite dish installed, which you can arrange with your freesat-approved retailer when you buy your freesat product

http://www.itv.com/Help/ITVHDQuestions/default.html

[southernsatellite]

You don't have to get an official freesat box! so I understand it?

[Analoguesat]

At the moment it seems to be working on pci cards with ther right filters installed.

Its NOT working on Sky HD boxes, or on most sat receivers. I have seen a single report of ITV HD working on a Vantage box, but with video only!

Basically its not going to work on anx bit of kit that doesnt have H.222 support built in.

[southernsatellite]

Thanks for the reply Analoguest, thats why I could not get it on my HD receiver!

[michael01707]

Here we go again, another sneaky attempt to get us to buy a product by withholding a channel on other platforms. They did this for the first few years of Sky Digital when they owned OnDigital. The other advantage for them might be that they can stay at Eurobird with this codec. ITV has nothing of interest to me now that Harry Hill has finished and they have no more exclusive champions league games this season, so I don't feel that I'm losing much.

[RayB]

Does the panel think that non-freesat box makers will be issuing firmware updates for their products so that people who have invested in "true" freesat kit can pick up this one channel?

Unless the BBC choose to follow suit (and I hope they don't) I won't be bothering with a Freesat box.

[merlodlliw]

Im a loner I know, but if it keeps it off Sky Doggie boxes,brilliant.


Bob

[redoxide]

Im sure it's probably down to simple economics. It will probably save ITV Loads of money by not having to pay for this particular channel to be on the Sky Platform or EPG.
And i am sure they have worked out they will spend lots more than they will earn in advertising revenue by putting the channel on two platforms so they have decided to back Freesat. Which i am sure will become the main platform for the majority of the population in time. I too believe that Sky have had to much of a strangle hold on the Uk satellite market and the competition will do them no harm, indeed i think it will be of benefit to all future UK satellite viewers and might start to tame Sky's annual abuse of its customers with its monotonous yearly price hike.
so from my point of view good on the UK PSB's for taking this step.
And before anybody asks i am a Sky subscriber (full package minus HD)but that doesn't stop me from thinking or saying that it is overpriced for what it is and i am certainly not prepared to pay them yet another ten pounds a month just to watch their HD content.

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by merlodlliw

Im a loner I know, but if it keeps it off Sky Doggie boxes,brilliant.


Bob

Trouble is it keeps it off the FTA boxes too

Pity they couldn't have found a way to keep it off the Crappy Sly sluggiboxes, but let the FTA receivers have it.

[Analoguesat]

Originally Posted by robbo71

Pity they couldn't have found a way to keep it off the Crappy Sly sluggiboxes, but let the FTA receivers have it.

Dead easy to do - flag it as encrypted but run it fta - sky sluggiboxes then reject the signal

Or even easier - transmit on a symbol rate that sluggi-hd's cant get like the 29xxx rate used for some recent tests