ITV Free? The Beeb say next year.

Charles Slane

From a link supplied by Chris E over on DigitalSpy, the BBC are currently saying - " ITV services are currently still encrypted although they will become free-to-air next year."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/digital_tv/dsat_frequencies.shtml

Seems kind of odd that they'd keep the encryption going for at least another two months since they're paying for it on a month by month basis and the decision is already made. I was hoping to see them before Christmas.

And of course "next year" could mean anything up to and including December 2006......

Jungle Boy

If you use a Sky Digibox without a card, on the UK EPG #101 is BBC ONE London & #102 is BBC TWO England. To view your local region (BBC Ulster), the channel needs a EPG number. The same principle will apply to ITV. The last time I counted, there was 26 ITV1 regions available on Sky.
I suspect that available EPG numbers won't be available until the reorganisation is done (eg: radio change to '0' prefix). Sky will give viewers a period to get used to the new categories. So 1st quarter 2006 will be the earliest to accommodate 26+ ITV1 regions.
It might be coincidence but even though ITV4 launches on November 1st, the Champions League won't move across from ITV2 until next year.

I'm probably completely wrong

DMC

They said "months" rather than weeks when making the annoucement. They had bought extra capacity from SES-Astra, so I'm sure these things take time. Look how long it took for the BBC to go FTA (when it started, it took some days to start, then quickly at the end)

As for the Digibox without a card, this only occurs if you have a UK sub or FTV card orginially married to the box. In Ireland, its the Irish EPG, with RTÉ 1 on 101 etc, even without the card. Its been that way for a year or so over here.

cazone

I Have a feeling that when ITV 4 Launches, ITV1+2 Will go "Clear" (Hopefully)

Mossy Monk

Jungle Boy wrote:

To view your local region (BBC Ulster), the channel needs a EPG number

no it doesnt. you can tune it in manually also

watty

DMC wrote:

As for the Digibox without a card, this only occurs if you have a UK sub or FTV card orginially married to the box. In Ireland, its the Irish EPG, with RTÉ 1 on 101 etc, even without the card. Its been that way for a year or so over here.

The original dummy cheque card or upside down viewing card trick don't work anymore, but select Interactive (red button). While it up turn card upside down or put in dummy card.

When you exit you get error press backup etc. You'll have a UK EPG.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.