Another New Satellite service for UK ?

[Satsearching]

A new satellite service is planned via Astra at 28' to the UK.

The service is called "Real Digital" and they hope to launch in the new year. They appear to be marketing their own HD boxes (Standard HD boxes for £125 to £185, a Twin Tuner PVR to be confirmed), but sources claim the first boxes will be made by Fortec, with a further 2 other manufactures who have not been named yet.

Real Digital appear to be taking a leaf out of "Top Up TV" as they will be operating a Pay As You Go scheme or a monthly subscription.

It is not clear which encription system will be used or if a CI module will be available for 3rd party boxes, it is also unknown what actual pay channels will be transmitted but they claim "A great selection of pay TV channels including Film and Sports"

http://www.realdigitaltv.com/

Could this be a viable alternative to Sky?

SS

[PaphosAL]

Originally Posted by Satsearching

Could this be a viable alternative to Sky?

SS

If it is- then (sadly) Sky will snuff them out like a candle, before they even start broadcasting, m8...

AL

[Satsearching]

Originally Posted by PaphosAL

If it is- then (sadly) Sky will snuff them out like a candle, before they even start broadcasting, m8...

AL

Just been doing some research, one of the guys behind "Real Digital" is no stranger to fighting with Sky and dirty tricks. They used to run a channel on Sky but couldn't afford the £78,500 a year charge just to appear on the EPG let alone transponder costs etc!

So these guys plan to have it's own EPG, own boxes and own encription (technically not a new encription, just not using sky's) which will help with keeping costs down for other providers that may join up or jump ship.

I wish them well and like the way they are trying to tackle things.

SS

[nj2006]

rapture tv and rapture radio ...... i think and im sure the company closed with the name cant afford sky epgltd or some dig at sky ....

what this guy is doing could easly be done frome a back room with a clone 800hd branded whatevername you feel like . the website is terrible and i really cant see much more than free tv on the listings . why not buy a coolstream and cut out the numpty thinking he can take on sky im sure he wont be about long .......

[excalibur]

This would be great but Sky will stamp on him like a bug unless the channels he gets are all 2nd rate ones that wont effect them. If there were so many great channels out there, then I would have thought that V1rg1n would have had some of the better ones to try and tempt customers away from Sky. Looking at the mass exodus from VM to sky when they lost sky one, people obviously want sky and there is no way they would put their channels on his netwwork.

I personally think its a non starter, his site is very amatuer and unfinished with very vague details apart from what is already available on freesat.

[lincsat]

I can see the Movies being TCM, Movies24 and Film4 and the Sports being Eurosport. He could maybe get the TopUpTV channels on board but I cannot see him getting any subscribers apart from the die hard anti-Sky.

[Satsearching]

Originally Posted by lincsat

I can see the Movies being TCM, Movies24 and Film4 and the Sports being Eurosport. He could maybe get the TopUpTV channels on board but I cannot see him getting any subscribers apart from the die hard anti-Sky.

I have to say though, that although he may not have put thought into the timing of this new service, he naturally may have timing very much on his side now with the on-going changes to cable?

There are a lot of die hard anti-sly peeps out there that have used cable instead, who may now be looking for another alternative.

I have to agree that this chap has a history of little success, but he may find he is in a very good position now to make it work, if he is capable.

I really hope he does though.

SS

[Satsearching]

Well, looks like this is a joke, been following progress on this setup for some time and looks like it is a dead duck and will not start.

I tried signing up to news bulletins, not had a single one from them, emailed them and not a single reply!

Shame really, could have worked if they got an act together!

SS

[Satsearching]

Well, maybe Real Digital hasn't given up yet!

Due to a new Ofcom ruling, Real Digital is pinning hope on carrying Sky Sports 1 and 2, cheaper than Sky can provide!

Press Release here ---> http://www.realdigitaltv.com/files/p...710-public.pdf

SS

[Satsearching]

Another press release, 9th November 2010......

REAL Digital has won the right to be included as a wholesale distributor of Sky Sports 1 and 2, on a similar basis to that which allows BT, Virgin and TopUp TV to retail the channels, subject only to agreeing contractual terms with BSkyB.

I guess the "subject only to agreeing contractual terms with bskyb" will be the sticking point for Real Digital.

Full Press Release Here---> http://www.realdigitaltv.com/files/public_CATRuling.pdf