BBC one, BBC two, BBC free

TVDX

The BBC will broadcast unencrypted on digital satellite for the first time from the end of May, the corporation announced today.

The decision to drop Sky's Conditional Access System -- which ensures that only those with an appropriate viewing card can see the eight BBC digital channels -- will save the BBC an estimated £85m over the next five years. It will also mean that anyone with a digital satellite box pointed at 28.2oE will be able to see the channels, which have up until now been restricted to UK viewing only.

The BBC says it will use £40m of the money it saves on "improving access" to the BBC's regional services on the platform. As a result, viewers will be able to see all 15 English regional variations of BBC One, the nation-wide English version of BBC Two, as well as the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish versions of BBC One and Two. The variations will be listed in consecutive places on the Sky EPG.

Viewers will still be able to see their correct regional version of BBC One or Two on EPG channels 101 and 102 respectively. A "one-off change from Sky" is required for this function to continue to work after May 30, something the BBC says it has offered to pay Sky at "a fair price, including a profit margin."

Up until now, the BBC has principally used Sky's Conditional Access System because rights issues prevent transmission of some programmes outside of the UK. In order to keep within these guidelines, all of the BBC's services will move to the Astra 2D satellite, whose signals are mainly limited to the UK.

"This is an important decision for the BBC which will save us a considerable amount of money. It will also bring new benefits to viewers right across the country, will broaden the appeal of digital satellite and enable as many people as possible to get the BBC's digital channels," said Director-General Greg Dyke today.

"For the first time ever, all the BBC's regional and national services will be available to viewers right across the UK. This means that a Scot living in London can get BBC One Scotland, or a native of Yorkshire, living in Cornwall could watch regional programmes from their home region."





This is unbelieveable, to say the least, and may mean end of ftv cards as this is probably why there has never been an official announcment of ftv cards being replaced.

Ok, we may be able to get all bbc channels for free now( on the irish subscription, no doubt only via add channels), but with no bbc call centre for ftv cards we will now no longer be able to get itv, channel 4 and five via our ftv cards, unless they just leave us alone and dont mess with the ftv cards, they may allow us to go on viewing, but new sign ups for the cards are unlikely to be accepted.

Discuss

*cough* missed the thread on this subject started by damo nearly nine hours ago did you:D
mm