A friend has just telephoned $ky and they told her that switch off would be
at the end of July 2003. Does anyone else have similar confirmation?

Gerry

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
A friend has just telephoned $ky and they told her that switch off would
be
at the end of July 2003. Does anyone else have similar confirmation?

Gerry



I read in a news article about the end of July also, so it sounds correct.
Does anyone know if ITV & Ch5 have to have their transmissions encoded? If
not then Sky are just using the monopoly that they have to force folk to pay
them even though they do not wish to watch any sky programs. Everyone should
write to their MP's, especially if you live in regions where you are never
going to get digital via terrestial or cable - Mick

ITV still have a contract to run until 2004, CH4 appear to be happy with the
situation (according to previous posts here, and because they have a deal
with FilmFour) Channel 5 have apparently just signed a new deal for five
years!

"Paddy" wrote in message
...

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
A friend has just telephoned $ky and they told her that switch off would
be
at the end of July 2003. Does anyone else have similar confirmation?

Gerry



I read in a news article about the end of July also, so it sounds correct.
Does anyone know if ITV & Ch5 have to have their transmissions encoded? If
not then Sky are just using the monopoly that they have to force folk to
pay
them even though they do not wish to watch any sky programs. Everyone
should
write to their MP's, especially if you live in regions where you are never
going to get digital via terrestial or cable - Mick

On Sun, 27 Jul 2003 12:33:13 +0100, "Paddy"
wrote:

If not then Sky are just using the monopoly that they have to force folk to pay
them even though they do not wish to watch any sky programs.

Nothing to do with Sky. If ITV, C4, C5 want to be available to
everyone then they need to broadcast FTA, or pay to issue FTV cards.

"Simon Gardner" [dot]co[dot]uk wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Paddy" wrote:

I read in a news article about the end of July also, so it sounds
correct.
Does anyone know if ITV & Ch5 have to have their transmissions encoded?

In what sense do you mean "have to"?


Are they under legal obligation to encode transmissions and if not why do
they not just go free to air - I would think that Sky would put obstacles in
the way of that as they wish to use the matter to enforce folk to pay
them. - Mick

I should think that they are in a 'cooling off' period now, just waiting
and
ironing out problems with some customers that may have had problems with
the
card changeover for one reason or another. Once these are all sorted, its
SWITCH THE BIG SWITCH TIME.

"Simon Gardner" [dot]co[dot]uk wrote in message
...
In article ,

I'd be surprised if it was that soon. I'd also be surprised if a call
centre droid knew.



I wrote to my MP Ian Carmichael (Orkney) who has relied to say that he is
already in touch with the 'Department for Cultural Media and Sport' about
this matter. If the government are to encourage more to go digital then they
should pay for ftv cards for areas who are unable to get digital terrestial
tv and are unlikely to ever get it. If they haven't the funds to do so then
they should raise the tv licence fee or place additional taxes on Sky and
associates. This would spread the cost for value across the country where at
the moments remote areas are expected to pay the same licence fees for a
inferior service. - Mick

Paddy wrote:
"Gerry" wrote in message
...
A friend has just telephoned $ky and they told her that switch off
would be at the end of July 2003. Does anyone else have similar
confirmation?

I read in a news article about the end of July also, so it sounds
correct. Does anyone know if ITV & Ch5 have to have their
transmissions encoded? If not then Sky are just using the monopoly
that they have to force folk to pay them even though they do not wish
to watch any sky programs. Everyone should write to their MP's,
especially if you live in regions where you are never going to get
digital via terrestial or cable - Mick
I am in such a location and wrote to my MP. He contacted chief exec, Tony
Ball, of BskyB who wrote back that it was down to ITV, C4 & C5 if they
wanted to provide FTA. He did not mention they were bound by any contract
with sky to remain encrypted. If this is the case he has misled the MP.
T. Ball also says that "Section 272 of the Communications Act gives OFCOM a
power to procure that public service broadcasters obtain the necessary
services to ensure their channels are available to households who are unable
to receive them via DTT, including obtaining conditional access services
which deliver smart cards to viewers who request them."
So it not Sky's fault guv, its down to the the ITV companies and maybe the
government should force them..
Since parliament is now in recess perhaps contacting OFCOM whould be more
fruitful.

rnet[dot]co[dot]uk (Simon Gardner) wrote:

Even though OfCom is not yet in operation, you can write to it at

Their website basically tells you to go away and contact the ITC or
the DCMS. Both of whom just say that it's really none of their
business. Sigh

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/guiv
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)