[vdr] Re: What's BBCi and is it possible to receive it with vdr?

[Richard Walker <runnyhunny@ntlworld.com>]

On 27 Sep 2004, at 20:40, Sean Carlos wrote:
> From the BBC web site:
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/ 
> dsat_nonsky.shtml#Dont_I_need_a_Sky_digibox_t
> o_watch_BBC_services
> Can I receive BBCi services?
>
> No, although BBC interactive services are broadcast in the clear,  
> presently
> only Sky digiboxes have the capability of decoding them.
>
> -> I suspect that they are using a proprietary, internally developed
> solution
On digital satellite, the BBC use Sky's OpenTV platform.  This is  
because
approximately 99% of digital satellite receivers in the UK are 'Sky  
digiboxes'.
These boxes are no-frills FTA receivers, with OpenTV and a Sky/NDS  
descrambler
(for which Sky/NDS deliberately do not make a CAM).  They also include a
proprietary 7-day EPG.

So... unless someone develops an OpenTV plugin for VDR, it's  
inaccessible.
However, most of the audio/video streams that BBCi uses will be  
available
as standard FTA streams - it's just a matter of finding them.

On digital terrestrial (in the UK), the broadcasters have settled on  
using
MHEG for interactive applications.  I believe that there are some free
MHEG engines out there, but I don't think anyone has created a VDR  
plugin.



Richard.