(11-02-2010 20:22 )StanTheMan Wrote: (10-01-2010 12:53 )coin Wrote: For the life of me I cannot understand why these channels aren't encrypted and only accessible with the Pin Number that is used to access all other adult paid stuff, I am not advocating payment to access these channels, just accessible by entering your pin.
How many times does it need saying that this is a non-starter? I don't know how everyone else surfs the babe channels, but I flick up and down them at quite an alarming rate. I'm buggered if I'm going to enter my PIN every time I switch a channel. We're talking 20+ PIN inputs every time you surf through them.
As
The Man says, it's a non starter, like a student before noon.
As long as Sky doesn't play ball.
I posted Sky costs for PIN control above, but a few days later had an epiphany moment (bear with me, I'll stop the poncey crap now). There are several ways that Sky could encourage good practice and help improve child protection AT ALMOST NO COST TO THEM. It's no use having child locks if they are so awkward that parents don't use them.
First, Sky could PIN protect all channels in the adult EPG at ZERO COST. They don't have to store subscriber info on their computers and transmit authorisation codes every few minutes, becuase the code and lock are stored on the viewers box. Zero cost to Sky.
Their £40,000 year 1 fee for settting this up is simply a way of raking money off "special" channels.
Second, as The Man says, having to enter loads of PINS is a killer, stopping surfing in its tracks. I dont even like the 4 second delay before a channel appears, and thats without PIN protection. BUT Sky could introduce a group PIN. Enter it once and ALL the FTA adult channels are unlocked for the night. "But what if the missus or kids try the channels the next day?" you say. Simples. The PIN lock resets every 5am. This would cost Sky less than £10k for a firmware developer and they can transmit the update to Skyboxes at low cost.
Trouble is Sky want it both ways. Loads of early Sky subscribers would not have signed up if Astra hadn't had easily obtained porn and Sky must have been aware of it. (We don't sell porn, but if you buy our package you'd be amazed how easy it is to go to another channel). These days Sky has more soft-core channels than Freeview, Virgin and BT. It has to be the deciding factor for thousands of male buyers. Even if they don't make a fortune directly from the satellite fees, anything that keeps viewers signed up has to be good news at Wombat Towers. But at the same time they won't put proper workable controls on or encourage strong channels so we get just enough to live in hope and continue paying £30 a month. Trouble is adult channel fans don't have a hand free to write in and complain.