[mythtv-users] Network terminals, regulation, and regulation avoidance

[Francesco Peeters]

> Quoting Simon Hobson <linux at thehobsons.co.uk>:
>
>> Another prong for an 'attack' might be to try and get the FCC to
>> mandate that any provider of encrypted services makes available a
>> CAM/CI card for the service. Over here in the UK we have a similar
>> situation with Sky - they use their own encryption and control the
>> entire system. They control who gets a slot in the EPG, and I believe
>> they have the receiver boxes set up so that it's difficult to use any
>> channels not in the EPG (so you only get channels 'approved' by Sky).
>> You *have* to use a Sky receiver as they don't supply CI cards to
>> decode the signal with anything else - and so they can get away with
>> charging extra for PVR, extra for HD, extra for this that and the other.
>>
>> OK, it still leaves you in a situation where you have to pay extra
>> for each CI card - but at least it means you cab buy/rent a card and
>> use it in any receiver.
>>
>> I would anticipate a strong and dirty fight back from the media
>> industries, but it might be worth a try. From what I've read lately,
>> it looks like your FCC might actually be starting to think about the
>> consumer (at least a little) unlike our useless OfCom (err, we
>> usually spell that OfCon because they are a useless con who seem to
>> be interested only in supporting their chums in industry).
>>
>> -- 
But at least $ly uses cards, even though without CI modules, which can
be used in boxes like the Dreamboxes from Dream Multimedia and their
many clones, with which you have the freedom to tune anything else you
want (FTA and whatever you have subscriptions for)...  ;-)
-- 
Francesco Peeters
DM500+, DM600pvr and still saving for a DM800HD