Cable Forum - View Single Post - Question about the Process for a Broadcaster on the Sky EPG to appear on Freesat EPG

**Chris** · 29-11-2010, 17:15

There are very few channels that simultaneously exist encrypted on Sky and also on a free-to-air transponder for the benefit of Freesat. (IIRC C4 did for a while, but I'm not sure if it still is). Basically, Freesat and Sky both carry a pile of fully FTA channels. Both kinds of box receive exactly the same signal, but they match them up with a different EPG.

Sky claimed from the outset that some of the behind-the-scenes encoding required to link channels with more than one EPG service had the potential to interfere with Sky's service. As Sky also owns part of the uplink infrastructure in the UK, Freesat and the broadcasters wishing to be on its EPG didn't have much choice other than to play along with Sky. Each channel added to the Freesat EPG therefore goes through an application and testing process to satisfy Sky before it can go live on Freesat.

Of course, there's nothing to stop Freesat box owners from manually adding any free-to-air channel in the Sky EPG to their Freesat box if they wish. They won't get EPG information with it, but the channel itself will work just fine.

29-11-2010, 17:15	#5
Chris Trollsplatter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,134	Re: Question about the Process for a Broadcaster on the Sky EPG to appear on Freesat There are very few channels that simultaneously exist encrypted on Sky and also on a free-to-air transponder for the benefit of Freesat. (IIRC C4 did for a while, but I'm not sure if it still is). Basically, Freesat and Sky both carry a pile of fully FTA channels. Both kinds of box receive exactly the same signal, but they match them up with a different EPG. Sky claimed from the outset that some of the behind-the-scenes encoding required to link channels with more than one EPG service had the potential to interfere with Sky's service. As Sky also owns part of the uplink infrastructure in the UK, Freesat and the broadcasters wishing to be on its EPG didn't have much choice other than to play along with Sky. Each channel added to the Freesat EPG therefore goes through an application and testing process to satisfy Sky before it can go live on Freesat. Of course, there's nothing to stop Freesat box owners from manually adding any free-to-air channel in the Sky EPG to their Freesat box if they wish. They won't get EPG information with it, but the channel itself will work just fine.