UPC Netherlands has introduced CI Plus

Bodan

UPC starts CI Plus on April 26
Published: 15.37 Europe/London, April 12, 2011 by Robert Briel

UPC Nederland has confirmed the launch of CI Plus in the country and set April 26 as the launch date. The news from the operator follows a premature announcement from Sony that UPC certified their 2010 and 2011 Bravia TV sets.

UPC supplies the CI Plus modules and smart cards for rent only – at the same price as the digital TV offer with the UPC set-top box, €5 monthly for the basic digital tier and €10 for the extended digital bouquet – plus the basic cable TV subscription price (around €17 a month).

So far, UPC has certified TV sets from LG, Panasonic, Philips and Sony with Samsung to follow soon. The operator will publish an up-to-date list of certified sets on their website (Broadband TV News will provide the link as soon as the list becomes available).

The CI Plus module and smart card can be ordered online via the UPC website and via a number of selected retailers.

I would like to see them introduce it over here. It would really appeal to people who use multiple TV's and it could also be used as a way to phase out analogue TV.

Mike 1972

One thing I did notice when I was abroad is that DVB-C capability seems to be far more common on TV sets sold on the continent.

Here there seems to be an assumption that anyone connecting a non cable company issued digital tuner to a cable network is doing so solely to view services without payment.

bk

It would be great to see this here for HTPC users also.

Windows Media Center, MytvTV, thrid party PVR's like TiVo, etc. without a crummy IR blaster and SD only.

lucernarian

I assume such a move would result in people having their pick of set top box aswell? Once the STB had a CI+ slot?

Yes, the assumption regarding payment evasion and using non-UPC boxes is a little unfortunate as a valid subscription card used in a different box would only be a breach of UPC t&cs and not a theft of service matter PROVIDED that the other box offered no extra fuctionality whatsoever.

JoeyJJ

Could this be the reason for the Press Conference?

Any other benefits other than the pick of own pvr?

bk

JoeyJJ wrote: »

Could this be the reason for the Press Conference?

Unlikely to have a big press conference for this. Something like this would be quietly introduced. It is something for the techies, not the general public, at least not initially.

The press conference seems very likely to be about new BB speeds and triple play packages.

JoeyJJ wrote: »

Any other benefits other than the pick of own pvr?

TV's without the need for a separate set top box. Handy for bedrooms, etc.

Solair

Those modules would be a HUGE selling point that would give them an edge on Sky in many urban areas.

The whole idea of requiring endless STBs puts people off. Other than in Cork, nobody's used to it in Ireland.

ted1

can't see them catching on to fast as they don't offer pvr. A must have for everyone these days

lucernarian

Interesting to see that there won't be a saving in price as UPC benefit from only having to supply a CAM instead of a STB. It's also better for green credentials, a bandwagon UPC have hopped on to recently.

Red Alert

I don't think it's a bad idea at all, but I'd say only niche users would be interested in it. Though it would mean that MCE and MythTV users can happily go ahead and use it. I presume this thing is in fact just a Nagravision decoder - or does it also replicate some of the on-box services of the UPC box?

I wonder how much EPG functionality it has? The carrier-provided TV box takes away the hassle of setting up the EPG and channel-tuning.

lucernarian

It seems that CI+ offer stronger restrictions on what can be done with recorded programming etc. with copy protection and the likes. Worth bearing in mind.

Red Alert

But the recordings in the current boxes are essentially copy-protected in that they're useless without being decrypted by the card anyway, so is that such a big deal?

Minstrel27

Red Alert wrote: »

But the recordings in the current boxes are essentially copy-protected in that they're useless without being decrypted by the card anyway, so is that such a big deal?

copy protection isn't an issue to most people.

Red Alert

^^ That's the point.

who is this

OSI wrote: »

A lot of TV's that offer the functionality to use this card would have some form of DVR built in.

Really?! I've never seen a single TV to have a built-in DVR.

I don't doubt they exist, but I think "a lot" is probably an overstatement