New FTA digital boxes!

Some analogue cable networks are capable of carrying digital signals with little upgrade. In fact the majority should be - the technology used for digital cable transmission is pretty similar to that used for most single cable analogue systems - similar frequency bands etc. The reverse link is trickier I think - but again it is the street cable boxes which are more likely to need upgrades, not the individual house cable feeds.

Also BTs network is almost entirely digital and has been since the late 80s. The only remaining bit of analogue technology is the local loop between the subscriber and the exchange. As soon as your line gets to the exchange it is digitised - this is why it is now easy for BT to offer 1571 call answering etc.

Nogin - i am aware of the similarities of the systems and know the backbone on cable and BT is digital

The BT local loop is inherantly analog, for ISDN and broadband, devices to convert digtal signals and put them at a frequency where they do not interfere with the operation of the phone.

I agree about the cable networks' ability to upgrade systems in the distribution box for it to become digital - but as i said, it would involve a large capital outlay - imagine all of ntl's analog systems needing to be upgraded - they are alredy loosing money fast.

Just like most televison studios' systems and link to the transmitter is usually digital and then converted to analog for broadcast

(Edited by drjones at 6:48 pm on Jan. 19, 2002)

What people don't seem to grasp is that this is NOT a new digital TV platform. It is the same DTT platform as has always existed, it is just a new supplier of the boxes. If E4 or UK Gold go FTA they will do so for all DTT viewers, those with new Boxco boxes, ITV Digital subscribers or pepole with iDTVs - the platform is the same either way.

The new box will receive all broadcast DTT channels and you will be able to view channels on ANY mux that are broadcast unencrypted.

Having said this, I do think it could seriously affect the balance between ITVDigital and FTA chanels.

Noggin, thanks for explaining it to me.

million..., if you'd read my post properly then you would have noticed that I said that I had read very little about this. I had quickly skimmed through the last couple of pages on this topic and gained the impression that ITV Digital was in some way going to benefit from this, I therefore assumed that if ITVD were going to benefit it would be linked to ITVD in some way. Ok?

One thing I am curious about is the whole business of ITV being involved. ITV... right, who are they then? Any companies from ITV or just... ITV? ITV is, after all, made up of lots of companies.

Isn't this going to pretty much ruin ITVD though? I mean, if you want extra choice through an aerial then you can just get this little box instead, much cheaper and with all of the free channels. If you want extra choice you get Sky. ITVD is left somewhere in the middle not knowing whether it is there to provide extra choice or just a simple upgrade/alternative. Just seems a bit odd for 'ITV' to be involved, would've made more sense for that other public service broadcaster, Channel 4, to link up with the Beeb.

Hey C@t!

As I understand it, it will be ITV Network Centre (a bunch of paper-pushers interested in the ITV Network) that are involved in Boxco, who, although I already hear several people laughing at my naivety, I believe are technically supposed to be inconnected from the corporate politics of Carlton and GMG (Who own ITVD) - So 'ITV' will be doing things in the interests of ITV and TV in general and are not supposed to do anything for 'ITVDigital', which is not actually part of the same group.

That's how I understand it anyway.

Also, Boxco is a collaboration between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - it's just that it's the main 2 companies that get paid attention to.

ITV NC is interested in the ITV network? Whatever next. I'd always got the impression that they were some terrorist organisation trying to bad regional continuity and local idents. ******* s.

The sad fact about all of this extra choice is that it's just more **** e on our screens. Perhaps if you took all of the decently produced programmes from the 100's of satellite channels out there and grouped them all together, you might actually be able to create one decent channel.

The problem ITVD has now is that the government don't need it to be a success, originally (IMO) they did; it was the top player in the DTT market and it didn't look like things were going to change. Happily, that is not always going to be the case.

i agree completely! im somewhat confused wether itv digital are involved or not, as some reports say 'itv'(who are looking out for the whole network, nothing much to do with ITVD) and some mention 'carlton and granada' (who own ITVD).

the reason i mention that is that if carlton and granada are involved, i would imagine some kind consolidation, or even complete merger of itv digital into boxco. (that would make common sense to me), but if itv network are at the table, representing 'itv', then that kind of move seems less likely, and ITVD will have yet another rival (meaning certain death)

ITV Digital and FTA - interesting issues :

ITV Digital / OnDigital were forced into becoming box commissioners/suppliers for their DTT service, which as a by-product also happily received the BBC, ITV,C4 and C5s FTA broadcasts. Because OnDigital and Sky Digital launched at roughly the same time (and both were 'digital') they were seen as competitors, and both quickly started giving away boxes (in ITVDigital's case on loan, in Sky's case you paid for installation but owned the box) rather than charging for them. This killed any potential market in FTA boxes... At least initially.

However it has become clear that pay TV services will not drive a 100% shift to digital TV (either terrestrial or satellite), and the cost of providing a FTA box has reduced to make it practical as a '3rd' option.

The FTA box is in the long run in everyone's best interest.

# The BBC because more licence fee payers will be able to benefit from the BBCs extra services on digital.
# ITV/C4/C5 will benefit because the tax paid to the treasury on advertising is only currently paid based on analogue viewing, digital ad revenue is tax free (to drive the transition)
# ITV Digital will benefit as all FTA boxes can be potentially upgraded to ITV Digital subscription (but ITV Digital do not have to pay for the box, only provide a CAM and SmartCard!)

I think ITV as a group (Carlton, GMG, SMG, UTV and Channel - though Channel have no DTT interest at the moment) will be more interested in developing advertising revenue streams on digital FTA boxes (and benefiting from the tax advantage) than they will be in preserving ITVDigitals exclusive and expensive stranglehold on DTT set top box supply.

Seems like they're trying to get 'DVB' as a broad term for DTT to put on anything that can pick it up, the logo appears on the Pace box as well as all the intergrated TVs these days. I guess it's supposed to be a counterpart to 'DAB', all an attempt to make it a bit easier for the public to understand.

call me stupid, but i though the Boxco deal was completely seperate to the Pace box announced this week (even though Pace are involved in the boxco deal too) - i thought pace had gone ahead to steal boxco's thunder?

but reading from bbc news online:
The BBC and ITV have been in close talks with Pace, hoping the new box will accelerate the take-up of digital TV.

sounds to me like this weeks announcement was to do with boxco?

am i being increadibly thick ? - anyone know wether this weeks announced box, is completely inependant of boxco or not?

So does anyone know exactly which channels are available on the new box for free.

I would buy it, but I don't think I am in the coverage idea, damn!