[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by towny

Why develop one system when you can have three? Heaven forbid that consumers might want to buy one set-top-box and then switch between satellite, cable and terrestrial as their needs, and the market, changes. This way, to switch, they must buy a new STB each time, or sign up with a broadcaster who will give them a 'free' STB in return for a minimum-term contract, and in the case of Sky also on condition that you connect the blasted thing to your phone line so it can run up your bill whenever it likes, without your permission. The winners here are the broadcasters, who have a way to lock you in to their services, and the manufacturers of the STBs, who get to sell more of them.

Unless you tell a Sky box to connect it only ever connects via a freephone number.