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Forums › HTPC › The HTPC with Sky, TVNZ's new low cost pay TV


333 posts

Ultimate Geek
Topic # 93713 28-Nov-2011 08:32 Send private message

Morning fellow Geekzoner's

I'm pretty excited to read that Sky and TVNZ are partnering up to offer a low-cost alternative to Sky TV's basic package.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10768519

They suggest that it will be broadcast using digital terrestrial frequencies already owned by Sky and will require a STB, presumably with some sort of encryption.

Does anybody have any inside info on what the technical details of this will be? I'm curious to explore what will be required to get this up and running smoothly on my HTPC.  
   




My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB  DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64

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1599 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user
  Reply # 550788 28-Nov-2011 09:25 Send private message

As the article mentions, surely this is anti-competitive. Also, somebody else posted on here about this not long back.



333 posts

Ultimate Geek
  Reply # 550789 28-Nov-2011 09:27 Send private message

Do you mean by making it less attractive for a competitor to enter the market?




My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB  DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64

1599 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user
  Reply # 550791 28-Nov-2011 09:29 Send private message

Basically there are two (or three) main TV operators in New Zealand. You have TVNZ (or Freeview) and you have Sky (or Igloo). Basically by partnering TVNZ and Sky there is no-one else out there, effectively stifling competition because there is no-one else in the market. 

BDFL
43726 posts

Uber Geek

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Geekzone
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  Reply # 550799 28-Nov-2011 09:44 Send private message

Discussion about the new service is in our Sky forum, please continue there.

As for the HTPC configuration itself, please continue hee.





Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) 

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1533 posts

Uber Geek

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  Reply # 550801 28-Nov-2011 09:50 Send private message

I'd hope that like CableCard there's some allowed way of decoding sky via an HTPC for this new service. I'd be all over that quite happily.





Previously knows as psycik

NextPVR Based HTPC:
2 x HVR3000 - DVB-S - Freeview, HVR3000 - DVB-T Freeview|HD, Nova-T 500 - Dual Freeview|HD, Digital Coax --> Yamaha RX-v540, 8600GT --> Samsung LA46A650D via HDMI
Clients:
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Windows 7 Ultimate Host
4x2TB + 1x1.5TB using DriveBender, VMWare Server 2 with 1xW7, 2xW2k3 1xUbuntu 11.10 Desktop, 1xWHS2011, Plex

92 posts

Master Geek
  Reply # 554976 7-Dec-2011 13:27 Send private message

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6098329/Igloo-pay-TV-details-released


1129 posts

Uber Geek

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  Reply # 554979 7-Dec-2011 13:31 Send private message

I dont know, but would guess that it would be difficult for a htpc solution as there wouldnt be many terrestrial encrypted MPEG4 networks around the world, so not a huge market for equipment or developers. Plus with the internet interface they could possibly get away with not using a card system at all



333 posts

Ultimate Geek
  Reply # 554986 7-Dec-2011 13:38 Send private message

nickb800: I dont know, but would guess that it would be difficult for a htpc solution as there wouldnt be many terrestrial encrypted MPEG4 networks around the world, so not a huge market for equipment or developers. Plus with the internet interface they could possibly get away with not using a card system at all


I'm not sure about that, but you could be right. So what you are saying is that an Internet connection (suggested to be Telecom) would be a requirement of this service?

I Can't see that this would be the case, but as I said, I could be wrong.

I'm assuming that there are such things as DVB-T Set-top-boxes with a card system? I've tried googling this sort of equipment but you are right, there is not a lot out there.

A clue might be that they say you can "rent" the equipment from them.

Basically if I'm unable to use this with my HTPC then this is a non-starter for me.         




My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB  DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64



333 posts

Ultimate Geek
  Reply # 554991 7-Dec-2011 13:44 Send private message

A PCIe card like this might be required:

http://www.netup.tv/en-EN/dual_dvb-t-c-ci_card.php





My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB  DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64

1533 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
  Reply # 554994 7-Dec-2011 13:47 Send private message

blur: A PCIe card like this might be required:

http://www.netup.tv/en-EN/dual_dvb-t-c-ci_card.php



Exactly, there are hundreds of cards with CAM modules that take subscription cards.  It can't be all that hard.




Previously knows as psycik

NextPVR Based HTPC:
2 x HVR3000 - DVB-S - Freeview, HVR3000 - DVB-T Freeview|HD, Nova-T 500 - Dual Freeview|HD, Digital Coax --> Yamaha RX-v540, 8600GT --> Samsung LA46A650D via HDMI
Clients:
Popcorn Hour A-100, 1xATV2, 1xATV3
Windows 7 Ultimate Host
4x2TB + 1x1.5TB using DriveBender, VMWare Server 2 with 1xW7, 2xW2k3 1xUbuntu 11.10 Desktop, 1xWHS2011, Plex

1599 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user
  Reply # 554996 7-Dec-2011 13:51 Send private message

Don't think this has been posted here just yet but Igloos' 11 pay-TV channels are BBC News, BBC Knowledge, UKTV, National Geographic, Animal Planet, Heartland, Vibe, Food Television, Kidzone24, MTV Hits and Comedy Central.

SJB

518 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted
  Reply # 555771 9-Dec-2011 08:54 Send private message

This service is circling the plug hole from day one.

And it's only terrestrial which rules out something like 10-15% of the country.

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