Ofcom has launched a consultation into Access Control (AC) services on the Sky set-top box. While Red Button remains the headline grabber, access control has now developed to include on-screen watermarking and interactive services including.
At issue is whether Ofcom should maintain the Continuation Notice against a background of second screen applications, mobile and tablets, which no longer require a direct connection with the set-top box.
Sky says that the regulation of AC is no longer required and has proposed a series of voluntary commitments under which it would continue to provide access for existing interactive services, on current generation STBs and also future generation STBs. The platform is promising t maintain the commitments until such a time as Ofcom deemed they were no longer required.
Included is access to: alternative videostreams broadcast via digital satellite; alternative audio soundtracks; digital text services; subtitling; voting, gaming and betting services; commercial watermarking; and pay-TV customer services.
Prices would be capped at current levels.
Broadcasters have already expressed concerns over the dropping of the current regulations.
With the regulator required to remove the Continuation Notice it’s consulting on whether to
- remove the Continuation Notice without imposing replacement access-related conditions, in light of Sky’s proposed commitments; or
- remove the Continuation Notice and impose replacement access-related conditions.
The consultation closes on September 17th.
