Quote:
Originally Posted by BenMcr
I would question where this 'unlawful to encrypt' thing comes from. As far as I can see there is a 'must carry' requirement on Virgin Media as part of all subscription levels however that isn't the same thing.
http://www.pedz.uni-mannheim.de/date...-mustcarry.pdf (this is from 2001)
I'm happy to be pointed in the direct of relevant information.
TiVo (which is Virgin Media's currently developed platform) works differently to the V boxes. You cannot have a non-subscription TiVo box, as the authorisation for services is internal to the box. TiVo doesn't rely on the Smartcard, and newly installed TiVo boxes do not come with one. Therefore you can't turn a TiVo box into a 'unencrypted only' box. It either is a subscribed box, or it's explicitly de-authorised.
In fact I'm pretty sure that where a customer is suspended, a permanent unremovable message is displayed over all channels on the TiVo box advising of an issue with the subscription. That's if the box can boot in the first place. It would also end up with box being unable to gain valid data from the TiVo data centre so the box would no longer display any EPG information. |
I was told that the unlawful thing is because FTA carriage of PBS channels is a condition of the cable franchises. Not sure whether the franchises can be inspected by individuals, they may be commercialy sensitive
I guess his choice of words was poor, maybe unlawful was too strong when it really means being in breach of their franchise agreement. I can't imagine that anybody would be sent to prison, but rather that VM would be told to correct any breaches and if they failed to do so, ultimately they could lose any affected franchise areas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1
How can your non-TV subscriber friend upgrade to HD? I'm guessing by buying a new TV which decodes cable, DTC. In which case getting an aerial installed and a cheaper TV without the DTC facility may be a better option.
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He already has a V HD box, but it can't currently show HD channels as these are encrypted.
I was hoping that he could start to view the PSB channels in HD (his eyesight is failing), but it seems that he will have to wait.
As he only uses BBC1, BBC News and Radio 4, which are all FTA in SD at no cost to him, he's happy with this arrangement and doesn't have to pay for a new aerial.
He's disabled and the Government have made savage cuts to disability benefits, so Pay TV had to go.