Stratos Closing

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Stratos Closing

1 | 2 | 3

20157 posts

Uber Geek

#563865 2-Jan-2012 21:56

deepred: Wouldn't the Commerce Commission be taking an interest in this? It's the equivalent of the Beeb selling out to Murdoch, or PBS/NPR doing the same with FOX.

SKY will never see a cent of my dosh, not because I'm a tight bastard, but because I object to the Orwellisation of broadcasting in NZ.

I would hope so. There s definitely a lack of competition in the TV content area IMHO.

Athlonite

1828 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#563869 2-Jan-2012 22:02

maybe now there's enough bandwidth for HD transmissions on the satellite now (I know wishfull thinking)

joshhill96

1512 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#563955 3-Jan-2012 11:13

Athlonite: maybe now there's enough bandwidth for HD transmissions on the satellite now (I know wishfull thinking)

Not a good idea because not many people have access to HD Content as they need a High definition capable receiver, These cost from $500 + including using the HDMI cable no one cant afford this.

Formerly worked at iStore NZ (Rest in Peace), Sky Network Television, Freeview, Apple, Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

Travel Geek: Brazil, Chile, New Caledonia, United States, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Cook Islands

Athlonite

1828 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#564033 3-Jan-2012 15:36

Actually it's $169 + $9.95 for an DVBS box with HDMI output

Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#564043 3-Jan-2012 16:35

You need DVB-S2 to get HD off a satellite unfortunately

citizen12

6 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#564056 3-Jan-2012 17:21

Its a pity Stratos didn't ask the public for donations like PBS in the US does. I think Aljazeera news is broadcast free to air and I don't think anyone else in NZ own the rights to it so I hope Freeview give me Aljazeera 24/7 and it would be the only 24 hour news channel on Freeview.

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#564058 3-Jan-2012 17:35

Brunzy: You need DVB-S2 to get HD off a satellite unfortunately

This is not true. SBS HD is 720p on DVB-S, not DVB-S2, for example.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

joshhill96

1512 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#564090 3-Jan-2012 18:54

Still People will need to spend more on top of the equipment they have, Freeview doesn't need HD broadcasts on Optus D1 Its not worth it. If people need HD content just get Freeview HD if you live in cities but in rural get SKY

Formerly worked at iStore NZ (Rest in Peace), Sky Network Television, Freeview, Apple, Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

Travel Geek: Brazil, Chile, New Caledonia, United States, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Cook Islands

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#564097 3-Jan-2012 19:26

joshhill96: Still People will need to spend more on top of the equipment they have,...

Not me, and not anyone with other than a real cheap STB.

Freeview doesn't need HD broadcasts on Optus D1 Its not worth it.

Content is controlled by the broadcaster, not 'Freeview'. It is fundamentally unfair however that HD FTA content available to some via DVB-T is not available to all via DVB-S.

If people need HD content just get Freeview HD if you live in cities but in rural get SKY

I live in Auckland - I have no DVB-T coverage, nor will I pay for what others receive for free, nor will I pay Sky a bent cent while they carry advertising. I'll subscribe to a per-channel service without advertising, if the rate is sensible, but that's it. Meanwhile, Freeview should be pressuring Sky to broadcast their (FV's) content unencrypted, or be sending out free cards to unlock it.

joshhill96

1512 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#564188 4-Jan-2012 07:04

Agree with you, Sky has many Free-to-air broadcasts which can be unencrypted for all to watch such as Trackside, Calvary, Niu FM and The Edge FM already avaialable. France 24, RT, BBC World, etc... would be good. The Box was originally going to be unlocked for Freeview but they decided to get Prime on.

Formerly worked at iStore NZ (Rest in Peace), Sky Network Television, Freeview, Apple, Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

Travel Geek: Brazil, Chile, New Caledonia, United States, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Cook Islands

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#564321 4-Jan-2012 13:06

It is fundamentally unfair however that HD FTA content available to some via DVB-T is not available to all via DVB-S.

I think that it's unfair that Telstra's highspeed internet service is available to some in Wellington, but not all, and also not available to the rest of NZ, but that's the limits of the network, same as the DVB-T.

DVB-S was only intended to be a backup where the DVB-T service did not get to.

Meanwhile, Freeview should be pressuring Sky to broadcast their (FV's) content unencrypted

With what leverage?
That would take a piece of legislaton I would think. (which could be done, but I don't know what incentive the government would have, seeing as they already put money into a dvb-t system for 87% of the country)

and then, you would still need a DVB-S2 receiver as Sky HD feeds are mpeg4.

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#564331 4-Jan-2012 13:23

JonnyCam:

It is fundamentally unfair however that HD FTA content available to some via DVB-T is not available to all via DVB-S.

I think that it's unfair that Telstra's highspeed internet service is available to some in Wellington, but not all, and also not available to the rest of NZ, but that's the limits of the network, same as the DVB-T.

Telstra is a private concern and can make whatever arrangements they wish. Freeview was touted as a FTA public service. The cases are not equivalent.

DVB-S was only intended to be a backup where the DVB-T service did not get to.

That isn't a "back-up"; that would be for coverage when the DVB-T system fails. What it is is an alternative where there is no cover. As such, it should provide the same level of service.

Meanwhile, Freeview should be pressuring Sky to broadcast their (FV's) content unencrypted

With what leverage?

Well, we could start with denial of content for rebroadcast, then throw in the current cost of duplicating the transmission in SD which would become redundant.

That would take a piece of legislaton I would think.

Well, it could be done that way of course: Sky could be compulsorily nationalised, but negotiation could well be all that was required.

(which could be done, but I don't know what incentive the government would have, seeing as they already put money into a dvb-t system for 87% of the country)

The other 13%.

and then, you would still need a DVB-S2 receiver as Sky HD feeds are mpeg4.

True, and in my case, not an issue as I already have one, but it is a valid point. It's another area where FV was misbegotten at its inception. There is no need for a DVB-T network at all - the whole kaboodle should have been DVB-S2 based. Our "brave new TV" system is obsolete and moribund before it has even got itself fully off the ground. Appropriate for a terrestrial system I guess.

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#564434 4-Jan-2012 19:01

Telstra is a private concern and can make whatever arrangements they wish. Freeview was touted as a FTA public service. The cases are not equivalent.

Fair enough, b ut Freeview via DVB-S is still providing a replacement FTA service, in a method which everyone in NZ can receive (I believe) where the same could not be said of the analog FTA system.
The quality / resoltion is a problem, but you get to the point of cost / benefit anaylysis, where it's not viable / desireable.

Maybe more transmitters will be added later on for the in-fill like yourselves.

The other 13% do no constitute an incentive, as the will still receive FTA TV, granted more people on Geekzone would be wanting HD, but the average person I don't think cares - or thinks that HD is something you get with Sky.

That isn't a "back-up"; that would be for coverage when the DVB-T system fails. What it is is an alternative where there is no cover. As such, it should provide the same level of service.

Ok, then take it as a complimentary delivery medium, whilst at a lower quality, is still receivable.

I don't mean to say that everyone in NZ should be able to receive HD TV FTA, but I don't think there is currently any money in the budget fot hat, and HD DVB-S (or forcing a private concern to unencrypt) is certainly not.

Our "brave new TV" system is obsolete and moribund before it has even got itself fully off the ground. Appropriate for a terrestrial system I guess.

Looks like DVB-T is the way many countires are going. I guess that is because they get to re-use all of that spectrum, and not have to continually pay for satellite bandwidth which (I guess) is quite expensive.

deepred

494 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#564435 4-Jan-2012 19:10

Or, in my case, just bypass the whole thing and go on-demand, bandwidth permitting. Bruce Simpson @Aardvark seems to have the same idea. Anything to immunise myself from Prolefeed.

"I regret to say that we of the F.B.I. are powerless to act in cases of oral-genital intimacy, unless it has in some way obstructed interstate commerce." — J. Edgar Hoover

"Create a society that values material things above all else. Strip it of industry. Raise taxes for the poor and reduce them for the rich and for corporations. Prop up failed financial institutions with public money. Ask for more tax, while vastly reducing public services. Put adverts everywhere, regardless of people's ability to afford the things they advertise. Allow the cost of food and housing to eclipse people's ability to pay for them. Light blue touch paper." — Andrew Maxwell

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#564440 4-Jan-2012 19:26

Amen to that. Roll on fast, cheap fibre I say.

1 | 2 | 3