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Next Gen Freesat?

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 13,981 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Maybe they will catch up with what people (who can set up their own system) have been doing for years.

    Probably by the time they try they will be far behind existing technology yet again ......


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Possible next generation Freesat box from Vestel - http://vestel.co.uk/en/consumer-electronics/set-top-box/hd-dvb-s2/
    HD DVB-S2

    Our DVB-S/S2 product portfolio includes an wide range of entry level, high performance and hybrid STBs featuring the most secure embedded CAS and DRM technologies and connectivity capabilites.

    General Features

    Full HD HEVC (H.265) and / or MPEG4 (H.264) Decoding
    Fullband Capture & Multi-tuner support
    Built-in hard-drive options
    Small Form Factor
    Embedded CAS
    HTML5 based applications
    CI+
    Enhanced Media Player with wide range of codec support
    SW Update via OAD (Over Air Download - DVB-SSU compliant) or USB
    HDMI 1.4 with HDCP 1.2, up to 1080p60 resolution support
    ErP Regulation compliant eco-design; Standby < 0.5W
    10/100 Fast Ethernet Support
    802.11b/g/n or ac Wi-Fi support.
    HBB TV
    VoD & Catch-up TV applications.
    Smart TV portal ready


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    This was posted over in the Saorview Connect thread earlier, Matthew Huntington, Chief Technology Officer at Freesat on the RFP issued recently for its next generation Freesat box. Manufacturing partners are expected to be announced this autumn.

    https://www.ibc.org/delivery/building-a-next-generation-set-top-box/2384.article
    What we need in our next set-top box
    4 October 2017

    From faster channel change to in-home streaming, Freesat’s next set-top box will be equipped with the latest technology to address the most pressing consumer demands, says Matthew Huntington.

    Freesat is all abuzz right now – we’ve just issued the RFP for a new set-top box for our next generation of consumer product.

    We think this will give manufacturers a big opportunity to develop a new range of innovative set-top boxes at scale, for use by Freesat’s growing base of subscription-free satellite TV viewers across the UK.

    We’ve based the RFP firmly on what consumers have been telling us they want, together with detailed analysis of trends in the market, and then further surveys and studies of consumers. We’re really excited that the process is now underway for creating our next generation box – which will allow us to further develop our offer of brilliant subscription free-content as well as the latest players and pay-as-you-go services.

    The product requirements have been based on an open technical spec set by the Free TV Alliance, which is helping to create common standards for free-to-view satellite TV services and technologies across Europe. Using this spec underlines, of course, Freesat’s ongoing commitment to continue expanding beyond the UK, through our collaboration with the Free TV Alliance, and partnerships with international TV companies through our Metaphor business.

    A key requirement for our new box is that it be UHD-ready and enabled for encrypted broadcast and IP. Consumer interest in UHD is strong, as can be seen from growing sales of UHD televisions. We think that while HD services have been broadcast free-to-air in the UK, free-to-view UHD services will require some form of content protection – so we’re asking both RFP respondents and content security providers for input into what’s needed.

    We’re also asking RFP respondents to enable our next box for in-home multiscreen streaming, so consumers can watch TV across multiple set-top boxes in the home as easily as possible. We think that enabling service distribution within the home over IP and Wi-Fi will be an improvement over needing connectivity from each TV to the satellite dish.

    Additional tuners is another requirement for our new box. We want to support in-home streaming while still delivering the PVR experience which consumers enjoy today, but this will require extra tuners so more TV channels can be processed by the STB at once.

    Also, there is growing consumer demand to record more than two shows at once, and we want to cater for this. Looking at the market, the number of tuners provided by operators in the UK has been growing as PVR functionality has become more widely used.

    We also want our new box to allow faster channel change, as we think consumers would welcome this improvement to usability. Speed of channel change on digital TV is a recognised challenge, but one advantage of increasing the number of tuners for recordings is that they can also be used for other purposes, such as improving channel change speed.

    A further requirement for our new box is that we want it to support HbbTV 2.0.1 applications – as across Europe and in the UK the key standard for on-demand and catch-up application is HbbTV. Using HbbTV will support greater interoperability of applications across devices, particularly for more complex areas of integration such as digital rights management, while opening up new service opportunities such as addressable advertising.

    Taken together these requirements are very much about creating a new set-top box that very much has the customer in mind, as we continue to bring UK audiences the best subscription-free TV service and a fantastic alternative to pay TV. We’re expecting to announce manufacturing partners in the autumn, with a view to bringing our next generation set top box to market as soon as possible.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,981 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Looking good ....... I wonder how many tuners it will include.
    They mention multi-use and at least two channel recording.

    So a minimum of 4 tuners but hopefully 8, would seem to be the sweet spot.
    If the tuners are Unicable II compatible that would be even better, meaning one cable from LNB.

    With the tuners as SAT>IP and made available on the LAN, even better.

    .... now if it had a couple of DVB-T2 tuners that could be added ...... we would have what the 'connect' should have been :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    I'm guessing it'll be compatible with Sky's wbLNB and dSCR technology to allow easy interchanging if required. Don't know about SAT>IP.

    There was a Freesat presentation on "Wideband, the single cable and channel stacking" at the CAI's Evolving Connectivity earlier this year. Unfortunately the presentation is locked behind the members paywall.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    Any further info on this.
    I presume we will see a new box later in 2018.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Any further info on this.
    I presume we will see a new box later in 2018.

    Haven't seen any more recent info, awaiting an announcement from them about manufacturing partners. Possibly waiting on the recent publication of the DTG's D-Book 10 before final proposals were submitted by the manufacturers.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Announced at IBC2018 in Amsterdam today, almost 12 months since Freesat issued their request for proposals (RPF) for the next generation Freesat receiver, they have partnered with ARRIS to launch the new 4K UHD/HDR box in 2019.

    Four versions of the box will be available: 500GB, 1TB and 2TB hard drive options for DVR, plus one option without a hard drive

    https://www.freesat.co.uk/news/freesat-selects-arris-partner-launch-generation-3-set-top-box/
    http://www.arris.com/arriseverywhere/2018/09/freesat-selects-arris-as-partner-to-launch-generation-3-set-top-box/


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    I find the need for encryption for 4k to be interesting. I wonder will we see subscription/ pay per view services like BT sports, eir sports, eleven sports, maybe even sky sports on the platform.

    With sky going down the streaming route I wonder where is the point where they offer their services solely through streaming. Afterall they have no obligation to carry their content on a satellite platform.
    E.g. I see BT box office are pay per view on BT, Sky and Virgin in the UK for the Canelo Golovkin fight. No reason for someone on freesat not to have access to it.
    The same with eir/premier sports, it would be so handy to have it on a freesat box.

    I wonder also will the box offer streaming of the channel from the epg?


  • Registered Users Posts: 33,650 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato
    Restaurant at the End of the Universe


    Noooooo

    Once Freesat starts accepting encryption, it ain't Freesat any more.

    Before you know it it'll be a pale shadow of its former self and shag all will be left FTA

    It took a while but I don't mind. How does my body look in this light?



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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    Noooooo

    Once Freesat starts accepting encryption, it ain't Freesat any more.

    Before you know it it'll be a pale shadow of its former self and shag all will be left FTA

    I think it will only add to freesat and entice people to it as less need for other boxes/devices. It would also add competition to sky for companies like eleven sports who might want to put their content on satellite.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Freesat will be free that is it's whole model. It cannot be a pay platform under its setup. Add-ons are just that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    Freesat will be free that is it's whole model. It cannot be a pay platform under its setup. Add-ons are just that.

    It is already a mix of free and subscription apps. I don't see why they can't add pay channels. You don't have to pay for them but it would be great to have the option.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    They won;t add pay channels, material you IP is an add-on by it's very nature. I can't get any of that stuff with my G1 Manhattan box for example as far as I know (not that interested), but I can get the free stuff :)


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,461 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Noooooo

    Once Freesat starts accepting encryption, it ain't Freesat any more.

    Before you know it it'll be a pale shadow of its former self and shag all will be left FTA

    The whole reason it exists in the first place is that the U.K. terrestrial channels were sick of paying Sky for access to their conditional access system. Now unless they’re going to develop their own prioprietary one (which means paying twice if they want the same content on Sky) then they’re going cap in hand back to Sky?


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,538 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Freesat will be free that is it's whole model. It cannot be a pay platform under its setup. Add-ons are just that.
    I could see it going FTV for new services rather than FTA, in the sense that you'd only watch 4K using a genuine Freesat box. SD and existing HD could stay FTA for backwards compatibility.

    It could lead to future savings on rights costs, and also allow Freesat to sell third party content or "top-up" TV that isn't broadcast. If the boxes phone home then you get accurate viewership figures that you don't get with FTA.


    In Italy Tivusat is FTV. Like Saorview Connect the tech is being done by the same people who do Freesat.

    Anyone with an Italian PPS can buy a FTV card and get the channels on the Hotbird footprint. Buts thanks to a loophole you can only purchase a Tivusat card with dedicated hardware like a receiver or CAM.

    In Ireland Saorsat gets around the footprint problem by using a tiny one and blocking a certain programs.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,257 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    I could see it going FTV for new services rather than FTA, in the sense that you'd only watch 4K using a genuine Freesat box. SD and existing HD could stay FTA for backwards compatibility.

    It could lead to future savings on rights costs, and also allow Freesat to sell third party content or "top-up" TV that isn't broadcast. If the boxes phone home then you get accurate viewership figures that you don't get with FTA.


    In Italy Tivusat is FTV. Like Saorview Connect the tech is being done by the same people who do Freesat.

    Anyone with an Italian PPS can buy a FTV card and get the channels on the Hotbird footprint. Buts thanks to a loophole you can only purchase a Tivusat card with dedicated hardware like a receiver or CAM.

    In Ireland Saorsat gets around the footprint problem by using a tiny one and blocking a certain programs.

    I think this is what is behind the Saorview Connect box. RTE would like accurate figures on viewers, and the Soarview ID is to get that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    I think this is what is behind the Saorview Connect box. RTE would like accurate figures on viewers, and the Soarview ID is to get that.

    It is all about targeted ads now. To use the UKTV Player you have to create an id, DOB and gender included. They are trying to get ad revenue back from the likes of facebook etc. I don't mind it tbh as I see ads for stuff I am interested in, rather than silly celebrity crap.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    I thought this had died a death as we haven't heard anything about this next generation Freesat box from Arris since it was announced at IBC2018 last year. Added to that Arris was acquired by CommScope in April this year, the acquisition was announced two months after the Freesat announcement at IBC2018.

    Then last Friday this was announced - DOTSCREEN Selected to Develop Freesat's TV User Interface on New Generation Arris Set-top Box
    PARIS, Sept. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DOTSCREEN, the multi-screen video applications & UI specialist, today announced its selection by Freesat as the developer of the operator's User Interface for its next HbbTV compliant set-top box.

    Headquartered in Paris, DOTSCREEN is one of the most experienced developer of HbbTV applications. The company has already been working for Freenet TV in Germany and Fransat in France, two other main European satellite operators using the HbbTV technology. Other HbbTV customers of DOTSCREEN include TF1 and France Télévisions in France, SVT in Sweden, ERT in Greece as well as France 24 in Europe.

    Chandan Rajah, Director of Technology at Freesat said, "Our collaboration with DOTSCREEN has turned into a burgeoning partnership and they have been instrumental in the success of our Generation 3 product offering. We are thankful to them for pulling out all the stops and displaying an uncompromising sense of professionalism and dedication to deliver on time, under immense pressure. As Freesat grows and scales, we see DOTSCREEN as a key partner to our success."

    About DOTSCREEN:
    DOTSCREEN designs and develops multi-screen applications & UI (available on smart TV, TV set-top boxes, game consoles, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, connected refrigerators, etc.) for major media, telecommunication and electronics companies (Disney, HBO, ESPN, Fox, Turner, CBS, Orange, Vodafone, Telefonica, Freenet, TF1, Beinsports, Mediaset...). The company also licenses its own, off-the-shelf UI & applications (TV Everywhere, VOD/SVOD, EPG, weather, radio, etc.).
    https://dotscreen.com

    About FREESAT:
    Freesat is the UK's subscription-free satellite television platform, offering brilliant free recordable TV, together with the latest streaming services, including catch-up and pay-as-you-go. First and foremost, we're about giving our viewers content, choice and amazing value. But we're also innovative, ambitious and agile, whether that's adding new services on our platform, finding new ways to help the channels that work with us, or exporting our technology to broadcasters in new territories. We invest our profits back into the business, helping to maintain a great user experience for all our customers.
    Established in 2007 by the BBC and ITV, Freesat reaches 2 million homes each week and is available via TV and set-top box. Our customers have access to a wide range of channels providing entertainment, news, and children's programming and on-demand and catch-up favourites such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, YouTube and Netflix.
    www.freesat.co.uk

    SOURCE DOTSCREEN

    Also this post over on DS
    Originally posted by lovinthetelly

    An update/sneak preview from IBC 2019:

    freesat-g3.png

    The new G3 boxes appear to be all-black versions of Arris's KreaTV offering - a square cube with a red/blue light at the front, and a logo at the top.

    Specs include HEVC, HDR-10, HLG, 10bit 2160p60, 2.4/5GHz WiFi, USB (so possibility of USB recording on the zapper box), wideband satellite tuners (so compatibility with SkyQ LNBs), no analogue outputs, Bluetooth remote compatibility, etc.

    Remote appears to be an upgraded version of Freesat's standardised remote used for Bush G2 and Metaphor boxes.

    No word on release dates but decent progress appears to have been made.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    From the same poster over on DS - https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/comment/95305984#Comment_95305984

    g3.jpg

    Interview here with Alistair Thom, Managing Director, Freesat - https://www.commscope.com/Blog/Freesat-and-CommScope-collaborate-on-the-next-generation-set-top/
    The video shows the new STB from CommScope (Arris) @1:11min.

    This poster got the following info from Freesat
    1. They are looking to release the new third generation boxes by the end of February, and are hoping to confirm a release date for these new boxes in the next few weeks.

    2. Also that as Humax are not producing any new boxes and they are scarce, they suggested the Manhattan SX box for approx. £50 to obtain the Freesat service sooner.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    The problem with buying a new box is all the stuff still unwatched on the old one! :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,456 ✭✭✭The high horse brigade


    The problem with buying a new box is all the stuff still unwatched on the old one! :)

    Can't you just leave it plugged in and use another source input :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    True, anyway I'll wait a while before diving in let early adopters work out the kinks and creases.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,257 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    True, anyway I'll wait a while before diving in let early adopters work out the kinks and creases.

    Plus, is geo-blocking not making new features unavailable in this jurisdiction?


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    - Coming Soon -

    Freesat-Arris-coming-soon25.jpg

    Zapper, 500Gb, 1Tb
    No pricing yet.


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    From the Freesat newsletter today

    Coming-soon-The-4k-TV-Box-jpg-edit.jpg


  • Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 19,088 Mod ✭✭✭✭byte
    byte


    The Cush wrote: »
    - Coming Soon -

    Freesat-Arris-coming-soon25.jpg

    Zapper, 500Gb, 1Tb
    No pricing yet.
    The site must've had the images/spec? up by mistake, because they're dead links now!


  • Registered Users Posts: 80,798 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn


    Will there will need to be a new dish/lnb to support the new boxes?


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,538 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    From 8th January 2018 , hopefully it'll continue to be FTA

    Freesat has chosen Intertrust Technologies to provide content security for 4K UHD TV content.
    said that the next-generation box would include UHD support for encrypted broadcast and IP deliver, fast channel change and HbbTV 2.0.1 support, as well as support for in-home multiscreen streaming
    Intertrust’s ExpressPlay DRM now protects the over-the-top (OTT) TV content for one-quarter of the world’s population


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  • Registered Users Posts: 15,452 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    byte wrote: »
    The site must've had the images/spec? up by mistake, because they're dead links now!

    No images or specs, just a placeholder for the upcoming boxes with a blurb about each. In the tidy up they've also removed links to the discontinued Humax PVRs


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