BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

It's now been confirmed that the chances of the UK escaping the Coronavirus epidemic are 'slim to nil' and that the government, amongst other things, will likely be banning spectators from football matches.

BT Sport & Sky Sports believe that they are to be asked to show matches for free in an effort to contain the virus.

How difficult would it be for VM to switch off the encryption at short notice? Could it be easily switched on/off as needed?

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

Ask JJ20X over on that other forum you have joined.

But I think Virgin can switch off encryption very easy.

Saying that Sky Sports can put games on Sky One or Sky Sports Mix.

BT Sport can ask Virgin to put games on Channel 100.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

They would just broadcast them on YouTube. Not everyone who attends games have pay TV but virtually all will have access to the Internet

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

For some reason (Spiderplant will know more) it's not as easy to just switch encryption on and off for VM as it is on Sky.

You're right, they may just put selected matches on channel 100 etc and leave the substantive channels encrypted.

---------- Post added at 20:34 ---------- Previous post was at 20:34 ----------

...good point, they may also go down this route :)

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

I can't actually remember the reason why (too long ago/old/drunk), but I think it can only be done for whole days. Launching temporary channels may be the easiest option.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

I’d say there’s virtually zero chance of this actually happening. Sky/BT will have watertight contracts and no obligation to comply with any such requests.

Even if it were to happen, which I doubt, this proposed method doesn’t get the content onto DTT which is where “free to air” viewers are.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

It may well turn out that all the fixtures may be cancelled.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

I seriously doubt that - Italy playing many games behind closed doors, don't see why that won't happen here.

Internationals etc are different and may well be cancelled.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

They dont have to "turn off the encryption"

Virgin could just add the channels to all users accounts easily enough, or more likely the broadcasters will put the matches onto the free channels they already have.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

Exactly, if it even happens. This thread is trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

The meeting has now concluded and they will meet again on Wednesday.

Bill Sweeney (Rugby Football Union Chief Executive) said as he left the meeting that the dialogue centred around the medical logistics of what to do if mass gatherings are banned, such as cancelling events or playing behind closed doors. He went on to say that it was a very good meeting and that as it was clearly a moving situation that they would "carry on talking and go from there".

At this stage, according to the BBC1 news, the broadcasters have been asked to "think about free to air fixtures".

From the BBC website:

'Broadcasters were asked to go away and work out the financial cost to them if they were asked to block feeds to pubs, and the idea of asking broadcasters to make coverage free-to-air so people could watch at home was also raised'.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

And it's a virtual certainty that any such measure will mean widespread coverage - including DTT.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

Maybe so, but all it takes is for a player in one team to catch this virus and the rest would be put into isolation, leaving the league with no option but to cancel the remainder of the fixtures.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

Could already be happening the owner of a Greek team who also owns Nottingham Forest has coronovirus and he was at the Forest match over the weekend.

Re: BT/Sky Sports encryption question Re: Free games.
 

In some respects I hope it does happen, and allows the authorities to focus their minds appropriately.