News Datacom has announced that they have successfully test their digital television system via ASTRA. The system is said to be the European version of the American Digital Satellite System. Which is of course unfortunate given the news earlier in the magazine.
The advent of digital television may set back the implementation of a single European Copyright area so much so that it may never become a reality. The common conception of digital television is that it will offer a plethora of channels with a single receiver.
While this may be so, it also offers the programme provider more control over the audience. The closest Europe has come to regionalised programming is the now defunct BSB EuroCypher system and the D2-MAC EuroCrypt-M. Both of these systems offered the possibility of regionalised programming. The EuroCrypt-M system is actually used in this manner with FilmNet and TV3.
News Datacom and Sky hope to introduce their new Digital TV service to Europe later this year. It is not known what type of smart card they will use.