Setanta FTA for the Paralympics?

Wote

Can anyone explain to me what Setanta mean by being free to air for the Paralympics? I think they really mean free to view for folks with Sky boxes but happy to be proven wrong!

xxyyxx

The EPG says Free View so that in my mind would be FTV for anyone with a Sky viewing card in Ireland. Have they said FTA?

Cantona's Collars

Generally anytime Setanta have something free,it means you still need a Sky card to view it.
Anyone using a Skybox for fta just needs to put in their old Sky Card & viola Setanta's FTV offerings clear.

icdg

We discussed this at length recently. Setanta are not free-to-air, they are, for certain programmes (which they decide) free-to-view, which means you just need an authorized Sky viewing card of any description to view. Setanta also have an arrangement with Sky that they (Sky) will issue on demand to those with a Republic of Ireland address, what is known as a "free to view card" which will only decrypt these free-to-view channels. Even though the issuing of this card is arranged through Setanta, it is still a Sky digital viewing card.

Once upon a time there were a number of channels (including the BBC and Channel 4) that fell into this "free-to-view" category. Now its Pick TV and not much else (a couple of channels under the Sony brand, LFC TV, Motors TV and Viva.)

The warning I gave on the previous thread re discussing how to circumvent the terms and conditions applicable to Sky viewing card still applies.

givecredit

icdg wrote: »

Once upon a time there were a number of channels (including the BBC and Channel 4) that fell into this "free-to-view" category. Now its Pick TV and not much else (a couple of channels under the Sony brand, LFC TV, Motors TV and Viva.)

.

Pick TV and Challenge TV have been free to air (not free to view) for over 2 months now. No need for a sky/setanta card.

Johnboy1951

icdg wrote:

We discussed this at length recently. Setanta are not free-to-air, they are, for certain programmes (which they decide) free-to-view, which means you just need an authorized Sky viewing card of any description to view. Setanta also have an arrangement with Sky that they (Sky) will issue on demand to those with a Republic of Ireland address, what is known as a "free to view card" which will only decrypt these free-to-view channels. Even though the issuing of this card is arranged through Setanta, it is still a Sky digital viewing card.

Once upon a time there were a number of channels (including the BBC and Channel 4) that fell into this "free-to-view" category. Now its Pick TV and not much else (a couple of channels under the Sony brand, LFC TV, Motors TV and Viva.)

The warning I gave on the previous thread re discussing how to circumvent the terms and conditions applicable to Sky viewing card still applies.

Well you can call it what you like, Setanta calls it a FTA card and that is good enough for me to continue referring to it as FTA.
On the matter of using this card in devices other than Sky STBs here is what Setanta have to say

Thank you for contacting Setanta Sports.

We can clarify that the FTA card supplied can be used in any equipment that allows you to receive Sky Digital services. The box itself does not need to be a Sky branded device.

(emboldened by me)

I have asked for further clarification ..... that is clarification on whether their reference to "Sky Digital services" might in fact be more correctly a reference to Satellite broadcasts.

xxyyxx

Free To Air means no card is needed. Setanta are incorrect to be calling it a FTA card.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Well you can call it what you like, Setanta calls it a FTA card and that is good enough for me to continue referring to it as FTA.

Why would you continue to call it FTA when it has been pointed out to you that it is incorrect?

Johnboy1951

xxyyxx wrote: »

Free To Air means no card is needed. Setanta are incorrect to be calling it a FTA card.



Why would you continue to call it FTA when it has been pointed out to you that it is incorrect?

So that I don't confuse Setanta

Wote

If it only works in a Sky box with a Sky card it is NOT FTA and no amount of will correct that.

I use a PC for my TV and there is no Setanta on it. Having said that, the HD Paralympic streams provided by Channel 4 are FTA.

Makes you wonder why Setanta bother.

excollier

Paralympics are FTA on any receiver, no need for Setanta, or Sky, or any other sub.
In add channels menu:

11469.00 H 27500 2/3 (sd channels)

HD can't be added manually, 23000 symbol rate not possible on manual tune

Wote

excollier wrote: »

Paralympics are FTA on any receiver, no need for Setanta, or Sky, or any other sub.
In add channels menu:

11469.00 H 27500 2/3 (sd channels)

HD can't be added manually, 23000 symbol rate not possible on manual tune

The point I'm making is that by declaring their Paralympic coverage FTA Setanta are making a completely misleading statement.

excollier

Yes, well, something a little like S** allowing the perception to persist that the only way to get digital post aso is to sub to them.....

watty

Setanta are a Pay TV channel with Tasters that work (without a Setanta sub) if you have a valid Sky card.

You need a Sky Pay TV platform and a valid viewing Card that belongs to Sky/NDS.

They should NOT get a cent of Sound & Vision fund nor EVER be allowed to advertise as Free To Air unless they are.

If the NCA and ASAI was any use they would get a BIG FAT FINE every time they use "Free to Air" in connection with their channel unless they ACTUALLY switch off Conditional Access / Encryption at clearly defined regular times. Setanta is 100% Encrypted. It's never Free To Air.

Johnboy1951

Wote wrote: »

If it only works in a Sky box with a Sky card it is NOT FTA and no amount of will correct that.

Why would you think it only works in a Sky box?

I use a PC for my TV and there is no Setanta on it. Having said that, the HD Paralympic streams provided by Channel 4 are FTA.

Makes you wonder why Setanta bother.

theoneeyedman

icdg wrote: »

We discussed this at length recently. Setanta are not free-to-air, they are, for certain programmes (which they decide) free-to-view, which means you just need an authorized Sky viewing card of any description to view. Setanta also have an arrangement with Sky that they (Sky) will issue on demand to those with a Republic of Ireland address, what is known as a "free to view card" which will only decrypt these free-to-view channels. Even though the issuing of this card is arranged through Setanta, it is still a Sky digital viewing card.

Once upon a time there were a number of channels (including the BBC and Channel 4) that fell into this "free-to-view" category. Now its Pick TV and not much else (a couple of channels under the Sony brand, LFC TV, Motors TV and Viva.)

The warning I gave on the previous thread re discussing how to circumvent the terms and conditions applicable to Sky viewing card still applies.

Will sky/setanta issue this card to anyone or just paying customers

watty

It's only guaranteed to work in a Sky box, sky own the card and it can stop working tomorrow in a 3rd party box. It's also breaking a civil contract to use it outside a Sky box so Sky or Setanta are entitled to kill the card.

C4 is FTA. So why would anyone bother with a 2nd Rate Pay TV company locked to Monopolistic HW.?

Why isn't Sky forced to provide competitively priced NDS CAM for 3rd party CI+, because they want total control of the DRM and no decrypted digital recordings.

A non-Sky box isn't a mainstream or reliable solution for Sky cards.

You need a Sky box to get the card. You don't have to be a Subscriber, but it should be boycotted and banned as an immoral marketing technique (puppy dog).

Unless you have a Sky sub a Sky HD PVR is a crippled piece of hardware. So don't get one unless you are planning to subscribe to real Sky packages for 3 to 5 years.

Twelve to 8 or 6 years ago it made sense to get a Sky sub and cancel after a year for "cheap" install. Today it's a waste of money with all the main UK channels gone Free To Air and reasonably priced far better boxes than the Sky crippleware.

Johnboy1951

watty wrote: »

It's only guaranteed to work in a Sky box, sky own the card and it can stop working tomorrow in a 3rd party box. It's also breaking a civil contract to use it outside a Sky box so Sky or Setanta are entitled to kill the card.

It seems Setanta, who issued the card to me, disagree with you.
As they issued the card, I will accept their statement on the matter.

Thank you for contacting Setanta Sports.

We can clarify that the FTA card supplied can be used in any equipment that allows you to receive Sky Digital services. The box itself does not need to be a Sky branded device.

C4 is FTA. So why would anyone bother with a 2nd Rate Pay TV company locked to Monopolistic HW.?

Why isn't Sky forced to provide competitively priced NDS CAM for 3rd party CI+, because they want total control of the DRM and no decrypted digital recordings.

A non-Sky box isn't a mainstream or reliable solution for Sky cards.

I have no comment on Sky or its services.

You need a Sky box to get the card. You don't have to be a Subscriber, but it should be boycotted and banned as an immoral marketing technique (puppy dog).

That is nonsense.
I requested the card, and received it, without once being asked if I had a 'Sky box', and definitely it was not made a condition of supply of the card.

Unless you have a Sky sub a Sky HD PVR is a crippled piece of hardware. So don't get one unless you are planning to subscribe to real Sky packages for 3 to 5 years.

Twelve to 8 or 6 years ago it made sense to get a Sky sub and cancel after a year for "cheap" install. Today it's a waste of money with all the main UK channels gone Free To Air and reasonably priced far better boxes than the Sky crippleware.

Sky services and equipment are not an issue in relation to the Setanta issued card.

Bottom line is that Setanta supplied me with a card suitable to receive the programmes transmitted under the BAI Sound & Vision Scheme, and they applied no terms or conditions to the use of that card in relation to the STB in which it can be used.

Because of posts in threads on Boards telling me it was not permitted to use the card in STBs other than Sky boxes, I sought clarification from Setanta. The relevant part of their response to my queries is quoted above.

For me, that settles the matter.
It is permitted to use the card in question in any STB I wish.

theoneeyedman

How did u go about getting the card johnboy

Kristopherus

theoneeyedman wrote: »

How did u go about getting the card johnboy

Ring or email Setanta and request a FTV card under the BAI Sound & Vision Scheme, to enable you to view the content.

Johnboy1951

theoneeyedman wrote: »

Will sky/setanta issue this card to anyone or just paying customers

They issue it to whoever in Ireland requests it.
You register with Setanta as a 'customer' and they issue you a customer number along with the card.
There is no payment involved.

Onthe3rdDay

I can't work out Setanta's business plan, they keep buying rights to sporting events that are available elsewhere for free. All you have to do is press a different channel number.

Skull Murphy

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Because of posts in threads on Boards telling me it was not permitted to use the card in STBs other than Sky boxes, I sought clarification from Setanta. The relevant part of their response to my queries is quoted above.

For me, that settles the matter.
It is permitted to use the card in question in any STB I wish.

Wonder what Sky's take on this would be?

Johnboy1951

Skull Murphy wrote: »

Wonder what Sky's take on this would be?

I guess that depends on the terms of their contract to supply cards to Setanta for the BAI Sound & Vision Scheme programmes.

It might be that Sky have no input at all into how or where the cards are used. Certainly the response I got from Setanta would indicate that.

byte

I've looked at Sky's T&Cs and see no real mention of not using Sky branded boxes.

With the exception of Liability
They wouln't be liable if the card fails if...

(c) use of a Viewing Card with any decoding apparatus we do not authorise;

So I think using boxes other than Sky boxes is fair game, they just won't be liable if it buggers up from use in a non Sky box... as they would..

Johnboy1951

byte wrote: »

I've looked at Sky's T&Cs and see no real mention of not using Sky branded boxes.

With the exception of Liability
They wouln't be liable if the card fails if...


So I think using boxes other than Sky boxes is fair game, they just won't be liable if it buggers up from use in a non Sky box... as they would..

That is probably good news for those who subscribe to Sky services. It appears to give choice of STB if desired.

I am not at all sure (quite the opposite actually) that Sky's terms of service are applicable for the card Setanta issue to enable viewing of BAI Sound & Vision programmes.

I have the card; I am not a Sky subscriber and therefore not covered by their terms & conditions, and Setanta placed no conditions that I have read, about complying with Sky's terms & conditions.

Either way it seems everyone can use their Sky Digital Services cards in other devices should they wish to.

Wote

Now are the T&Cs different if a Sky service is subscribed to?

Macy0161

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

I can't work out Setanta's business plan, they keep buying rights to sporting events that are available elsewhere for free. All you have to do is press a different channel number.

They're probably paying (relatively) sod all. They obviously haven't advertised it very well given the "why aren't the paralympics on Irish TV, aren't RTE a disgrace" stuff doing the rounds on facebook/ the internet.

Onthe3rdDay

Macy0161 wrote: »

They're probably paying (relatively) sod all. They obviously haven't advertised it very well given the "why aren't the paralympics on Irish TV, aren't RTE a disgrace" stuff doing the rounds on facebook/ the internet.

I think the outrage at RTE is at RTE alone. They should be covering the event in more depth, after all the have the rights, they just choose not to use them. However, anyone who can get Setanta can get Channel 4 as far as I'm aware.

They've done the same with several other events that were free on the BBC, it just makes no sense.

Wote

As another poster said earlier, it's a puppy dog to promote subscriptions

icdg

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Either way it seems everyone can use their Sky Digital Services cards in other devices should they wish to.

Sky disagree with you

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc wrote:

You can only use the Viewing Card at your Address with the Box for which it is first authorised by SSSL to receive encrypted digital satellite services.

http://www.sky.com/ireland/terms-conditions/tv/

Johnboy1951

icdg wrote: »

Sky disagree with you

That was based on what I quoted from byte.

Originally Posted by byte
I've looked at Sky's T&Cs and see no real mention of not using Sky branded boxes.

With the exception of Liability
They wouln't be liable if the card fails if...


So I think using boxes other than Sky boxes is fair game, they just won't be liable if it buggers up from use in a non Sky box... as they would..

In any case this thread is about receiving Setanta FTV service and Setanta clearly say that any STB is permitted for the card they issue.