A clever ploy or not.

[Lanxman]

Ok there's a lot of talk about vm switching to new encryption about these days. Let's look at this another way, This is not what I believe but isn't it a possibility? Ok most of these points are based on hearsay.
Vm make most of their revenue on broadband and phone and next to nothing on tv.
They want to stop people from going to sly.
VM don't seem to fussed when it comes to people being reported about non virgin boxes.
They are apparantly in debt.
Adverts are launched to raise awareness about illegal boxes.
Taking these points into consideration, Isn't it possible that vm are using the advert's for a clever ploy to attract people to vm?
get phone and broadband and a basic tv package for a cheaper price than sly knowing damned well that people are going to use these boxes. But at the same time making the money on bb and phone, So will they change the encryption really?
I have searched the net for virgin's comments on cable tv piracy and have come up with nothing (just what other people have said on all sorts of forums)
This post is not based on fact, Just speculation. What are other peoples thoughts on this? Highly unlikely but maybe, just maybe.....

[dctyper]

yeh, vm own dream media

[bugaloo41]

imo i would be very surprised if vm dont change encryption. jasmeet posted the tail end of last week an article from vm last week about pilots they will be running and the area affected. the roll out will be 2009-10. I still think most of us will get the tail end of 2010.

i have had about 7 years of this so i cant grumble.

[Sirus]

Ive always thought thats one thing VM have over Sly the fact people would prefer VM because of the freebies on offer.. and Id say they both know that

The thing is, is it worth how much VM lose from all these pirates...or is the situation stable enough to let it go on, as long as it keeps people from Sly using their(VM) basic packages

Not that they can help it sometimes

[C64]

Broadband is also hacked to ~~~~.

If I didn't get free TV and free Broadband then I'd be a Sky customer

Virgin TV is awful, but their broadband is superb.

Even when Nagra 3 goes live, plenty of us will still have instant access to all Virgin Media TV for free.

The Satellite scene has already pioneered the solution.

[Lanxman]

That is a classic example of my point witchy, You would go to sky if it wasn't for the things you mentioned. It's true mate broadband is also hacked BUT it isn't as widespread as the tv.

[C64]

It is indeed mate, merely adding to your argument.

All things being equal, my money would be going to Rupert Murdoch.

[Lanxman]

Yes of course mate, And thankyou. Like I said in the first place this isn't what I believe but it's an interesting point of view eh?

[mikeyb]

It will get to a point where sly won't give VM the premium channels unless the encrypt it properly. The HD channels will show this. I think.

[C64]

All they really need to do is add PPV to all channels.

In reality this would mean a simple firmware update which automates the PPV request on all channels, hence all boxes needing talkback - resulting in all 3rd party boxes being rendered useless as they cannot request any channels since they have no talk-back.
MOSC enabled original hardware will still survive.

[felix1]

isnt it in companies interest that they systems ar ehackable to a certain extent? if VM werent hacked from years back would they even be around now? as said ppl have taken up with vm for BB and phone and got the tv free. their BB isnt the cheapest. and most dont need 20mb let alone 50+. like with playstations, would they be as popular if they couldnt be hacked at all? also it keeps the companies busy finding solutions for the loop holes in their system. things that cant be hacked dont last too long or sell so well. same with dvd players that couldnt play copies. yea they were fine and nice but everyone got a cheapo that played copies too.

[Lanxman]

isnt it in companies interest that they systems ar ehackable to a certain extent? if VM werent hacked from years back would they even be around now? as said ppl have taken up with vm for BB and phone and got the tv free. their BB isnt the cheapest. and most dont need 20mb let alone 50+. like with playstations, would they be as popular if they couldnt be hacked at all? also it keeps the companies busy finding solutions for the loop holes in their system. things that cant be hacked dont last too long or sell so well. same with dvd players that couldnt play copies. yea they were fine and nice but everyone got a cheapo that played copies too.

Very valid point but ps3 has been going strong for 2 years now and still not a hack in sight, Then again it may just be a matter of time.

[shady77]

id hardly call the ps3 sales strong mate.

Analyst slashes PS3 sales expectations following disappointing 2008 // News

felix, you forgot to menition ondigital. hacked to ~~~~, and where are they now?

witchy. i recognise your new avatar from somewhere... "willow" or "time bandits"? i cant remember

[CableFella]

2d worth....

Hi guys,

Interesting thread. My tuppenceworth is that:
a) VM may change system completely ie not bother going to nagra 3 (encryption) assuming their "new" system is shortly to trial...and launch in say mid 2010.
b) They may go to pure IP delivery (rather like BBC iPlayer) because they have already announced that intention - I think. It would seem to make sense for them to move towards "convergence" of all their cable traffic (including VOIP for phone sooner or later). This would require constant dialogue with their servers (think IP talkback).
c) The conditional access may in effect reside at the VM end not in a STB. I suspect (as an earlier post suggests) that it will feel a bit like PPV.
d) So we would need to solve (IP) PPV superimposed on something like a cable modem.
e) I look forward to seeing posts from peeps in trial areas!
f) Our new project would likely be more like a linux pc with a cable modem front end and a video/HDMI back end rather than a STB with an analogue tuner front end.

OK so we should all look forward to a challenge and another interesting ride. Remember there are thousands of us and only one of them!

[flutered]

chorus and ntl have this prob in ireland, they take no notice of the other boxes as they get enough from the basic channels, the stuff that is being (borrowed) belongs to sly and is costing them nothing.