Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stoctrash who wrote (33179)	5/13/1998 1:43:00 PM
From: Don Dorsey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

UK's BSkyB, BDB in digital TV box pact--ITC ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ÿÿÿÿ LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - Britain's commercial television regulator said on Wednesday rivals BSkyB and British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) had agreed to resolve the main points of their feud over digital TV decoders. ÿÿÿÿ "We are satisfied that they are working together to resolve the issues," said Peter Rogers, chief executive of the Independent Television Commission (ITC). ÿÿÿÿ He told a news conference that BSkyB and BDB -- a venture between Granada Group Plc and Carlton Communications Plc -- had agreed that their different decoders should be technically compatible. ÿÿÿÿ This "interoperability" means that viewers will be able to receive digital TV services, regardless of whether they are delivered via satellite or terrestrial platforms. ÿÿÿÿ BSkyB and BDB have been locked in a dispute over the boxes since February, when BDB awarded a deal to supply the technology used in the decoders to Franco-German group SECA rather than News Datacom. ÿÿÿÿ News Datacom, like BSkyB, is a unit of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Ltd . ÿÿÿÿ BSkyB, which plans to start offering its digital TV service via satellite next month, issued a writ against BDB, arguing that the terrestrial broadcaster's boxes would not be compatible with its own. ÿÿÿÿ But BDB argued that viewers would only need a simple plug-in adaptor to enable them to switch to BSkyB's service. ÿÿÿÿ After meetings with both companies, the ITC said on Wednesday that BSkyB had accepted BDB's argument that the plug-in adaptor would work. ÿÿÿÿ As a result, both companies' first-generation set-top boxes should be interoperable, although further work needs to be done to make more advanced pay-per-view technology compatible. ÿÿÿÿ "Both sides are agreed, and they are working toward that," Rogers said at the conference, which launched the ITC's consultation document on the subject. ÿÿÿÿ He added that BSkyB had also accepted that its complete electronic programme guide would not be available on BDB's initial batch of set-top boxes, although basic channel information will be provided. ÿÿÿÿ The two companies were still working to reach a further agreement on the electronic programme guides, which will let viewers navigate their way through the multi-channel services. ÿÿÿÿ In its consultation paper, the ITC also backed the principle of "open access," meaning that set-top boxes should be able to tap all types of digital services without requiring embedded proprietary technology. ÿÿÿÿ However, Rogers said BSkyB disagreed with the ITC's position, arguing that it needed to keep control over its proprietary technology as a means of fighting piracy. ÿÿÿÿ A BSkyB spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The firms and other interested parties will have until July 10 to respond to the ITC's consultation paper. ÿÿÿÿ Meanwhile, BDB said it and BSkyB were well on their way to making inter-operability a reality. ÿÿÿÿ "We are pleased with the progress we are making on this issue. BDB has always wanted to ensure that viewers need buy only one box to receive channels from digital terrestrial or digital satellite services," a BDB spokesman said. ÿÿÿÿ BSkyB's shares rose about six pence to 440 by 1230 GMT, while Granada slipped 6.5 pence to 1077.5, and Carlton rose some two pence to 515.