What box are we in?............
BSKYB, BDB SQUARE OFF OVER DECODER BOX PICK
02/24/98
Daily Variety
Page 26
Copyright 1998 Variety, Inc.
LONDON - The rift between British Digital Broadcasting and British Sky Broadcasting has widened with the announcement that BDB's digital terrestrial TV service will use a different decoder box from BSkyB's digital satellite platform.
BDB has chosen the Seca technology instead of the News Datacom system used by BSkyB. That means viewers will be forced to chose between two rival systems, instead of being able to buy one box that can automatically access either service.
The decision was greeted with fury by BSkyB chief exec Mark Booth, who threatened legal action over the move. Under U.K. regulations, BDB is required to ensure that its set-top boxes are compatible with other digital services.
But BDB director Nigel Walmsley argued that the Seca system will be able to receive BSkyB's digital satellite package, if the viewer chooses to spend a few pounds extra on the necessary adapter.
He said BDB chose Seca because it is a proven digital technology, used by Canal Plus in France, whereas the News Datacom system has yet to be tested in the marketplace. The decision means that BDB has a greater certainty of meeting its target launch date of fall 1998.
"Seca is one of the world's leading providers of conditional access," said Walmsley. "It is used in over one and a half million digital set-top boxes across Europe. In choosing this established system, BDB is on course to launch in the last quarter of this year."
BSkyB is due to launch its 200-channel digital satellite package in June. BDB will offer a 15-channel terrestrial package, including BSkyB's premium sports and movie channels.
But BSkyB is already pursuing legal action over the refusal by Carlton Communications, BDB's co-owner along with Granada Group, to pay $48 million owed to BSkyB under its program supply deal with BDB.
Carlton claims that BSkyB is not making sufficient progress to secure Premier League soccer rights for BDB. |
