Austrian public broadcaster ORF will introduce a new encryption system for its TV channels on Astra (19.2 degrees East).
It will be a software-based system without smartcards, Michael Weber, head of sales, marketing & communication at ORF’s technical services subsidiary ORS, told Broadband TV News. This would be a customer-friendly solution which has proven successful at DVB-T2 platform simpliTV operated by ORS.
The high consumer satisfaction of the more than 120,000 simpliTV customers has triggered the decision to also use a cardless system for DTH satellite distribution, explained Weber. The deployment is planned for autumn 2016 or early 2017.
Like for the current smartcard-based system, a solution from conditional access provider Irdeto will probably be used, said Weber, adding that the decision will be made shortly.
New reception devices are required for the cardless system. The current encryption system will continue to be used in parallel for at least eight years to ensure a long transition period for viewers, stressed Weber.
ORF encrypts its TV channels on Astra for copyright reasons to restrict reception to Austria. Only domestic households are granted access.
