Real Digital
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Real Digital
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This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (May 2011) |
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| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
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| Area served | United Kingdom |
| Key people | Fred Perkins (CEO) |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite |
| Website | www.realdigitaltv.com |
Real Digital is the brand name for a digital satellite television and radio service in the United Kingdom which is transmitted from SES S.A.'s Astra satellites located at 28.2° east (Astra 2A/2B/2D/1N) and Eutelsat's 28A satellite at 28.5°E. Real Digital also plans to launch in Ireland.[1] The service ceased transmitting on 31 March 2012, promising to return in seven days. As of May 2012[update], this has not yet happened.
Real Digital's main competitors are Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.[2][3]
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Contents
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Channels
Currently, Real Digital only offer free-to-air channels which have been available on other platforms for several years, however they intend to offer pay television packages by spring 2012 which will include Sky Sports 1 and 2 and a high definition version of Blackbelt TV.[3][4] Subscription packages will be available on a month-by-month basis, without a contract or minimum subscription period. Additionally, pay-per-view services will be made available. Support for the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player video on demand services has also been announced.[3][5]
Technical information
The service makes use of the same fleet of satellites as Freesat and Sky, Astra 28.2°E and Eutelsat 28A. This means that any satellite dish which is positioned to receive these services is capable of receiving Real Digital, with the addition of a suitable receiver. Providing the LNB (low-noise block downconverter) has sufficient outputs, the one dish is able to receive multiple services. For their proposed pay TV offering, Real Digital will use a Conax conditional access system.[6]
Real Digital currently offer two kinds of set-top boxes, one with a single tuner and the other with a dual tuner PVR. They are manufactured by Fortec Star and Digital Stream.[7]
Criticisms
Launch
Before launch, the company had missed many promised launch dates.[2][8] The service eventually began broadcasting on 1 October 2011.[9]
Test boxes were received by reviewers and a small number of beta-testers in December 2011.[10] As of May 2012[update] production boxes still have not reached any high street retail stores, despite an agreement being announced with Maplin Electronics.[11]
Suspension of service
On 31 March 2012 at midnight, the lease of the transponder on Eutelsat's Eutelsat 28A satellite ran out.[citation needed] The transponder was subsequently cleared, removing the EPG broadcast stream. Real Digital claim to be undergoing essential maintenance work, with the signal going offline for approximately 7 days.[12] The move left Real Digital viewers with nothing more than the DVB-S standard now and next programme information.
As of May 2012[update], the stream has not returned and on 11 April 2012 Real Digital claimed on Facebook that work had halted due to the Easter break.[13] Another Facebook post on 2 May 2012, denied that the service had closed but no further updates would be provided until there was definite news.[14] On 29 May 2012, Real Digital deleted their Facebook page and removed all links to it from their website.
As of May 2012[update], the company is still listed as active by Companies House.[15]
Management
The company was founded by former Rapture TV boss David Henry and Information TV boss Fred Perkins.[4] On 11 November 2011, David Henry was disqualified from acting as a company director after failing to ensure that one of his former companies paid the appropriate amount of tax.[16] David Henry had been acting as managing director of Real Digital until he was removed from the role on 21 February 2012.[17]
See also
References
- ^ "This is the real deal". Real Digital. http://realdigitaltv.com/about.html. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Real Digital: The new alternative to Freesat". Pocket-lint. 16 June 2011. http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/40565/real-digital-takes-on-freesat.
- ^ a b c "Freesat and Sky rival Real Digital set for UK launch". Cable.co.uk. 20 October 2011. http://www.cable.co.uk/news/freesat-and-sky-rival-real-digital-set-for-uk-launch-800770480/.
- ^ a b "Real Digital eyes Sky Sports launch offer". Digital Spy. 27 October 2011. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a284464/real-digital-eyes-sky-sports-launch-offer.html.
- ^ "Sneak Peak". Real Digital. 12 September 2011. http://realdigitaltv.com/entry006_dst.html.
- ^ "Conax and Real Digital". Real Digital. 30 March 2011. http://realdigitaltv.com/entry003_conax.html.
- ^ "First Production run finished!". Real Digital. 21 November 2011. http://realdigitaltv.com/entry007_maplins%20online.html.
- ^ "Competition tribunal to judge on REAL DTH alternative to Sky Sports". Rapid TV News. 27 October 2010. http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/201010278507/competition-tribunal-to-judge-on-real-dth-alternative-to-sky-sports.html.
- ^ "Need to replace my...". Facebook. 24 January 2012. https://www.facebook.com/REALDigitalTV/posts/341357832548828?comment_id=4726268.[dead link]
- ^ "Real Digital PVR- £300". What Satellite and Digital TV. http://www.wotsat.com/news/article.asp?a=10205. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Pre-order now!". Real Digital. August 2011. http://realdigitaltv.com/entry005_maplin.html. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ^ "Maintenance". Real Digital. 31 March 2012. http://realdigitaltv.com/entry010_maintenance.html.
- ^ "Looks like it's...". Facebook. 11 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/REALDigitalTV/posts/398075800210364?comment_id=5117378.[dead link]
- ^ "The wiki says you...". Facebook. 2 May 2012. https://www.facebook.com/REALDigitalTV/posts/223381181105899?comment_id=846118.[dead link]
- ^ "REAL DIGITAL TV LIMITED 05982572". Companies House. http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05982572. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ^ "Former director of Broadcasting company disqualified over VAT refund". Regional News Network. 21 December 2011. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=422566&NewsAreaID=2.
- ^ "Termination of appointment of director". OpenCorporates. 21 February 2012. http://opencorporates.com/filings/99681822.
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