Saorview Connect

Atlantic Dawn

Hibrasil wrote: »

122 days left for Saorview Connect to become a reality in 2017. Not holding my breath at this stage!!!

Yes no chance it will onsale in 2017, will be lucky to even get a basic spec release before the end of the year the way things are going. Perhaps it will be in shops for the World Cup next summer.

Hotblack Desiato

Much more likely at this stage it's never going to hit shops at all.

galtee boy

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Much more likely at this stage it's never going to hit shops at all.

Would be inclined to agree with you. It's gone beyond a joke.

Hibrasil

More bad news.....it's been 13 days since there was any News of Service Update on the Saorview Website. Everything must be prefect in the Saorview world so that there is no further need for service updates..never mind News of progress in the development of the broadcast platform. Tongue in cheek, I know....so no need for caustic comments.

The Moleman

What exactly is Saorview Connect? Is it just watching TV on an app and setting recordings? I've looked it up a few times but always come away still not knowing what it is.

And is there Sairview Connect ready boxes on sale at the moment or is it the service AND technology that is delayed?

I promised the Mother I'd switch the house over from Eir while she is away but I keep forgetting because I only use Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

The Cush

They have said Saorview Connect will be available before the end of the year, no release date, specification or details of the proposed service have been announced.

Saorview Connect is RTÉ hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV) solution for terrestrial TV and broadband delivered services, similar to Freeview Play, Germany's Freenet TV Connect etc.

We don't know the full details of the service yet but will include 7 day catch-up, on demand content, remote recording, maybe IPTV channels (via epg LCN), new multi-platform player (incl. live TV).

https://www.saorview.ie/en/news/article/rte-and-saorview-partner-with-freesat-to-deliver-a-next-generation-product

Mint Sauce

The Cush wrote: »

They have said Saorview Connect will be available before the end of the year, no release date, specification or details of the proposed service have been announced.

Saorview Connect is RTÉ hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV) solution for terrestrial TV and broadband delivered services, similar to Freeview Play, Germany's Freenet TV Connect etc.

We don't know the full details of the service yet but will include 7 day catch-up, on demand content, remote recording, maybe IPTV channels (via epg LCN), new multi-platform player (incl. live TV).

https://www.saorview.ie/en/news/article/rte-and-saorview-partner-with-freesat-to-deliver-a-next-generation-product

They said that in January though.

The Cush

Mint Sauce wrote: »

They said that in January though.

And more recently in their annual report, published at the end of June.

Good progress has been made on building the first Saorview Connect boxes. The project team has been working closely with Freesat (the service provider) and the manufacturer. There have been some delays against the original project plan, but these have been managed to ensure that the product will be made available at the earliest opportunity. There is a high level of interest from the market and it is expected that the first Saorview Connect boxes will be for sale in 2017.

The Moleman

I was told that there are some Saorview Combi boxes on the market that allow recording to an external drive.

How is this allowed? Wouldn't these recordings be playable on a computer?

Gerry Wicklow

Many boxes record in a format that can be viewed on other devices or streamed on your network. They don't have to be Saorview or even combo boxes. Likewise they may use an internal or external HDD

The Moleman

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Many boxes record in a format that can be viewed on other devices or streamed on your network. They don't have to be Saorview or even combo boxes. Likewise they may use an internal or external HDD

Is there DRM protection on these recordings?

peking97

This from Saorview this morning in response to a question re target date:-

"Thank you for asking. We are still working on getting the first boxes ready, but we don't have a launch date yet." :rolleyes:

Capt'n Midnight

The Moleman wrote: »

Is there DRM protection on these recordings?

First of all.
SKY encrypt everything so you can only playback stuff that's on your current subscription. And that is very deliberate on their part.


Connect is being done by same people who setup FreeSat boxes to allow un-encrypted SD recordings but encrypt HD recordings, so you can only be sure of playback on the same device
Any non-Freesat satellite box will record HD unencrypted.


AFAIK no third party box encrypts Free To Air recordings. And a Saorview approved TV with a USB key doesn't (or at least the one's I've tried) And the standalone Vestel Saorview receivers are OK


So IF Saorview Connect encrypts HD recordings it would be a step backwards compared what consumers already on terrestrial.

Gerry Wicklow

To my mind, as a licence payer I should be able to view any Saorview content as and when I wish.

Johnboy1951

Any device that encrypts recordings or otherwise ensures they can only be played back on that same device deserves to be blacklisted.

STB.

The Moleman wrote: »

Is there DRM protection on these recordings?

DRM is controlled by flags set by the broadcaster. Certain platforms flag HD content and the software on the box prevents usage outside it. Generic DVB-S2 receivers ignore this as they simply dont understand it!

I guess you are used to the Sky box scenario whereby they are tuning to encrypted versions of the UK FTA channels AND their own pay content channels and that they control what you can view that on.

The Moleman

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

First of all.
SKY encrypt everything so you can only playback stuff that's on your current subscription. And that is very deliberate on their part.


Connect is being done by same people who setup FreeSat boxes to allow un-encrypted SD recordings but encrypt HD recordings, so you can only be sure of playback on the same device
Any non-Freesat satellite box will record HD unencrypted.


AFAIK no third party box encrypts Free To Air recordings. And a Saorview approved TV with a USB key doesn't (or at least the one's I've tried) And the standalone Vestel Saorview receivers are OK


So IF Saorview Connect encrypts HD recordings it would be a step backwards compared what consumers already on terrestrial.

So I would be able to get recordings from BBC One HD but could from just BBC One?

The Moleman

STB. wrote: »

DRM is controlled by flags set by the broadcaster. Certain platforms flag HD content and the software on the box prevents usage outside it. Generic DVB-S2 receivers ignore this as they simply dont understand it!

I guess you are used to the Sky box scenario whereby they are tuning to encrypted versions of the UK FTA channels AND their own pay content channels and that they control what you can view that on.

No, I've never had Sky, just UPC and could only ever record on the box itself.

Being able to keep and transfer HD BBC nature shows would be great.

Johnboy1951

The Moleman wrote: »

So I would be able to get recordings from BBC One HD but could from just BBC One?

The Saorview Connect box does not yet exist, if that is what you refer to.

Most Set Top Boxes allow you to record all available channels whether HD or not.
Some boxes are limited by the manufacturer ...... such as previously described.

Capt'n Midnight

The Moleman wrote: »

So I would be able to get recordings from BBC One HD but could from just BBC One?

It's very unlikely that Saorview Connect will offer BBC at all as it's only supposed to be viewed by UK license holders. ( If it did then that would be a game changer. Otherwise it might as well be a top-up box for Freesat. )

So you are left with only RTE 1 and 2 in HD. Unless TG4 will stream in HD, and even if they did I wouldn't hold my breath for the other channels.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Any device that encrypts recordings or otherwise ensures they can only be played back on that same device deserves to be blacklisted.

Blame the rights holders for imposing the condition. Freesat boxes are fine otherwise.

For UK satellite and terrestrial there are SD versions of most channels so not as big an issue as it would be here where there is no SD version of RTE2, and the +1 version of RTE is only on air half the time and doesn't show some programs like Reeling In The Years.


BTW there was a patch for the Humax Foxsat HDR that turned off that "feature" which makes it compatible with generic Free To Air boxes
You can also go the other way by converting a DVD rip or recording made on another device so it can be played on the Humax. Not that useful since you'd already have a device that could record FTA. It's get really stupid when you realise you can use your TV's remote control to get your Blu Ray player to play a recording shared by your satellite receiver. Or stream it locally depending on the satellite receiver.

Capt'n Midnight

The Moleman wrote: »

No, I've never had Sky, just UPC and could only ever record on the box itself.

Being able to keep and transfer HD BBC nature shows would be great.

You can do that right now with any generic terrestrial or satellite box.

Johnboy1951

Johnboy1951 wrote:

Any device that encrypts recordings or otherwise ensures they can only be played back on that same device deserves to be blacklisted.

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Blame the rights holders for imposing the condition. Freesat boxes are fine otherwise.

Blaming someone is a waste of energy ....... just use a box that does not impose such limits.

The Moleman

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

The Saorview Connect box does not yet exist, if that is what you refer to.

Most Set Top Boxes allow you to record all available channels whether HD or not.
Some boxes are limited by the manufacturer ...... such as previously described.

No not Connect - I was told there combined boxes that can record to an external drive.

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

It's very unlikely that Saorview Connect will offer BBC at all as it's only supposed to be viewed by UK license holders. ( If it did then that would be a game changer. Otherwise it might as well be a top-up box for Freesat. )

So you are left with only RTE 1 and 2 in HD. Unless TG4 will stream in HD, and even if they did I wouldn't hold my breath for the other channels.

Is BBC not on Saorview at the moment?

I'd swear I saw BBC One & Two HD listed on the site last time I looked but I can't see it now.

Johnboy1951

The Moleman wrote: »

No not Connect - I was told there combined boxes that can record to an external drive.



Is BBC not on Saorview at the moment?

I'd swear I saw BBC One & Two HD listed on the site last time I looked but I can't see it now.

There are no non-Irish channels on Saorview.

RTE 1
RTE 2
TV3
TG4
be3
3e
RTE Junior
RTE 1+1
RTE Nows Now
Tithe an Oireachtais
and a Saorview Information channel are the channels available on Saorview.

Tigerandahalf

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

There are no non-Irish channels on Saorview.

RTE 1
RTE 2
TV3
TG4
be3
3e
RTE Junior
RTE 1+1
RTE Nows Now
Tithe an Oireachtais
and a Saorview Information channel are the channels available on Saorview.

What apps are we likely to see on the Connect box?

??
Youtube
Netflix
Facebook

What software will it be based on. I presume it is not android?

The Cush

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

What apps are we likely to see on the Connect box?

??
Youtube
Netflix
Facebook

What software will it be based on. I presume it is not android?

Netflix should be there, considering they're already part of the Freesat setup and Freesat are developing and managing the Connect service for RTÉ.

Saorview Connect will use the HbbTV standard, like Freeview Play, Freesat Freetime and is being adopted across Europe and other counties worldwide.

The Cush

The Moleman wrote: »

No not Connect - I was told there combined boxes that can record to an external drive.

Is BBC not on Saorview at the moment?

I'd swear I saw BBC One & Two HD listed on the site last time I looked but I can't see it now.

There is a reference to receiving the UK channels here using a combi box - https://www.saorview.ie/en/get/saorview-combi , but they are not directly part of Saorview. The boxes simply combine a terrestrial tuner and a FTA satellite tuner.

List of those combi boxes from their site, none with internal drives and I'm not sure if any of them are available now - https://www.saorview.ie/en/get/products/search/eyJyZXN1bHRfcGFnZSI6ImVuXC9nZXRcL3Byb2R1Y3RzXC9zZWFyY2giLCJzZWFyY2g6YXBfdHlwZSI6IlNhb3J2aWV3IENvbWJpIn0

Saorview have said the new range of Connect boxes will include a combi receiver for the reception of the FTA satellite channels, no further details of this have been announced yet.

One_Of_Shanks

Is there still no combi box on the market that can let you record shows in advance on saorview and freesat?

The Cush

One_Of_Shanks wrote: »

Is there still no combi box on the market that can let you record shows in advance on saorview and freesat?

No and not likely to be. Freesat is a UK service and unlikely to be licensed to a non-UK service like Saorview.

One_Of_Shanks

The Cush wrote: »

No and not likely to be. Freesat is a UK service and unlikely to be licensed to a non-UK service like Saorview.

Ah, ok. Thanks Cush.