Question

[fargo.hendryx]

Does anyone have an estimate of how many people use fta?

 

[Titanium]

FTA use is most popular outside of North America. Most popular in Western and Central Europe. Many regions satellite use is in decline as subscription services become readily available via IP.

Other regions are having incredible FTA growth due to lack of subscription providers and minimal terrestrial distribution methods. Cellular distribution of entertainment services may bring significant change to distribution models in developing countries over the next few years.

The most popular satellite for North America is G19. Intelsat estimates 5-7 million active systems in households served by G19 KU footprint. There are other KU satellites that have limited DTH viewers such as SatMex and niche such as services for religious organizations. C-band households are very limited, but are still used in Central and South America. These systems are on the decline as Sky and other DTH satellite and terrestrial subscription services continue to grow.


Brian Gohl
Titanium Satellite

 

[KE4EST]

The FTA hobbyist in the US is a niche group. Just a few thousand.

 

[Titanium]

Agree with KE4EST and will take that observation take it one step further. Very few FTA viewers anywhere are hobbyists. Most buy equipment once to receive a particular channel or expat programming and do not upgrade to the latest gear.

I would be surprised if there are over a thousand FTA hobbyists in all of North America.


Brian Gohl
Titanium Satellite

 

[Mr Tony]

Most buy equipment once to receive a particular channel or expat programming and do not upgrade to the latest gear.

A few years ago there were folks who got a FTA setup for one thing. The North Dakota hockey games that were on the "Fighting Sioux Sports Network"
When Midcontinent (the main cable company in ND/SD) got the rights they scrambled the feed so lots of FTA systems go unused now.

 

[feed freak]

Does anyone have an estimate of how many people use fta?

FTA in Europe is slim pickings, 90% of the good stuff uses either biss, power vu or Tandberg encryption. The latter being the replacement for BISS

 

[navychop]

FTA in Europe is slim pickings, 90% of the good stuff uses either biss, power vu or Tandberg encryption. The latter being the replacement for BISS

?????

Then why do I see hundreds of dishes on apartment buildings across Europe and North Africa? Or are you distinguishing between hobbyists and subscribers?

 

[Mr Tony]

FTA in Europe is slim pickings, 90% of the good stuff uses either biss, power vu or Tandberg encryption. The latter being the replacement for BISS

but at least in Europe you can subscribe to that. Here if its scrambled we're screwed.

 

[feed freak]

?????

Then why do I see hundreds of dishes on apartment buildings across Europe and North Africa? Or are you distinguishing between hobbyists and subscribers?

DTH viewers far outway the hobbyists, at least in the UK. every other property will have a mini dish attached, occasionally there will be a larger dish spotted to access a foreign encrypted tv package, either an expat or a football fan. ITC feeds are to irregular to be relied on here. I wouldn't even class it as a niche group of people

but at least in Europe you can subscribe to that. Here if its scrambled we're screwed.

dish network or Direct TV not an option?

 

[Mr Tony]

if you subscribe to Dish or Directv you have to use THEIR receiver. You can't just take the smart card and plug it into any old receiver. They won't authorize it

If something is PowerVu or Tandberg encrypted the only ones who can subscribe are cable companies/Directv/Dish. They won't allow the "public" to subscribe.

 

[feed freak]

its the same here, cards paired to recievers. If you want to be guaranteed to watch premier league football, f1 etc you can forget about finding them itc.

if you subscribe to Dish or Directv you have to use THEIR receiver. You can't just take the smart card and plug it into any old receiver. They won't authorize it

If something is PowerVu or Tandberg encrypted the only ones who can subscribe are cable companies/Directv/Dish. They won't allow the "public" to subscribe.

 

[Mr Tony]

I guess we're just jealous here in the states at the cool equipment and the plethora of channels you can get for free in Europe

 

[feed freak]

Plenty of FTA channels that arnt worth watching. I would give my left nut for a plot of land in the US and dish farm

surely the same equipment is available to you guys as whats available here. Big dishes here cost a fortune, over there it looks like people re giving them away.

I guess we're just jealous here in the states at the cool equipment and the plethora of channels you can get for free in Europe

 

[Mr Tony]

surely the same equipment is available to you guys as whats available here.

not for receivers. We see new receivers in tele-satellite each month and just drool

Big dishes here cost a fortune, over there it looks like people re giving them away.

were big dishes not used in the UK until recently?

 

[feed freak]

not for receivers. We see new receivers in tele-satellite each month and just drool

were big dishes not used in the UK until recently?

most of the stuff is available for order online though. THE BUD's here are rare, cant remember the last time I seen 1. Most use 80-1.2m ku setups