Digital TV free-to-air encryption debate settled?

The Department of Communications (DoC) has addressed the debate raging about whether or not free-to-air channels such as SABC and e.tv should be encrypted when South Africa makes the switch from analogue to digital terrestrial TV (DTT).
In an interview with Minister of Communications Dina Pule and deputy director-general of communications Themba Phiri, the DoC said that digital broadcasting should continue as defined in the Broadcasting Act.
“Which is free-to-air, plug-and-play,” Phiri said.
Phiri went on to say that they don’t believe the introduction of DTT should mean that consumers must ask SABC or e.tv for access.
This means that the set-top box (STB) control will be limited, Phiri said, and will not amount to full conditional access as implemented by MultiChoice.
The STB should have security features that protect it, but South Africa’s broadcasting signal should be unencrypted, Phiri said.
“We do not think that it’s a matter for the set-top box standard,” Phiri said “It’s a matter for policy.”
Phiri said that if you read the Broadcasting Act, it says that you should be able to buy a TV, switch it on, and receive the signal.
“This is an environment we want to continue with, otherwise we feel we’ll be contravening the definition of broadcasting,” Phiri said.
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