Sky News

[Disting]

Hi All

A while ago I stayed in a hotel, have long since forgeotten which hotel and where it was other than it was in Thailand and on their TV it had sky news. Does anyone know where to pick this up as UBC does not carry Sky news.

Thanks in advance

[monty]

AFAIK Skynews is only carried on the South African Multichoice network.

Unfortunately, since UBC (now called Truevisions) has the sole re-transmission rights in Thailand for most of the premium channels (Discovery, HBO, National Geo...), watching Multi is basically in a little grey area of the law, even if you have an original card.

On top of it, getting an original Multichoice card in Thailand is outrageously expensive ( +50,000 Baht/year).

Of course the "other" ways of watching it are completely and highly illegal and cannot be discussed here!

[jsat]

AFAIK Skynews is only carried on the South African Multichoice network.

Sorry not quite correct.

Most hotels and cable TV operators across the region (Thailand included) get their set top box and subscription direct from Star TV in Hong Kong, and watch this channel off the Asiasat 3s satellite perfectly legally, no skull duggery required.

[madjbs]

But why would you want to watch Sky News, it is utterly rubbish.

[Boater]

But why would you want to watch Sky News, it is utterly rubbish.

I find it is far better to watch then BBC world or CNN

Edited May 3, 2008 by Boater

[LivinLOS]

AFAIK Skynews is only carried on the South African Multichoice network.

Sorry not quite correct.

Most hotels and cable TV operators across the region (Thailand included) get their set top box and subscription direct from Star TV in Hong Kong, and watch this channel off the Asiasat 3s satellite perfectly legally, no skull duggery required.

I had read that UBC had sole transmission rights ?? And even if birds were visible the reselling of premium broadcast was illegal (or grey !!).

Is that not the case ?? I had been told this was a law that made Astro and other competition to UBC illegal (even tho its very possible)..

[monty]

It's probably possible that Star can make up a package specifically for hotels etc, excluding channels that UBC has the rights for.

It's also possible that Star included into the contract with UBC, that it is allowed to sell their own channels (Star world, Star sports, ESPN) themselves direct to customers in Thailand.

---edit---

According to Star's own website, especially if you are a hotel, you'll have to subscribe with Truevisions (UBC), and NOT directly with STAR!

Source: http://www.startv.com/corporate/howtoget/Thailand.htm

So even though you are paying for copyrights if you pay Star directly, you'll probably still be liable for prosecution by Truevisions because you'll most probably are using a Star smartcard which is not supposed to be used in Thailand!

Again, that little grey area called re-transmission rights!

[jsat]

It's probably possible that Star can make up a package specifically for hotels etc, excluding channels that UBC has the rights for.

It's also possible that Star included into the contract with UBC, that it is allowed to sell their own channels (Star world, Star sports, ESPN) themselves direct to customers in Thailand.

---edit---

According to Star's own website, especially if you are a hotel, you'll have to subscribe with Truevisions (UBC), and NOT directly with STAR!

Source: http://www.startv.com/corporate/howtoget/Thailand.htm

So even though you are paying for copyrights if you pay Star directly, you'll probably still be liable for prosecution by Truevisions because you'll most probably are using a Star smartcard which is not supposed to be used in Thailand!

Again, that little grey area called re-transmission rights!

If you are talking about home users you are of course 100% correct.

When it comes to commercial operators there are no grey areas (hotels and cable TV operators over 800 registered in the Thai CableTV Association) as the content providers have deals direct with them. ESPN for instance is handled by ESPN in Singapore not True in Bangkok. Sky News which the OP mentioned is handled by Star TV in Hong Kong not True in Bangkok.

Many of the larger hotels groups will have done regional deals with the content providers direct which True have no control over.

Edited May 3, 2008 by jsat

[Disting]

AFAIK Skynews is only carried on the South African Multichoice network.

Unfortunately, since UBC (now called Truevisions) has the sole re-transmission rights in Thailand for most of the premium channels (Discovery, HBO, National Geo...), watching Multi is basically in a little grey area of the law, even if you have an original card.

On top of it, getting an original Multichoice card in Thailand is outrageously expensive ( +50,000 Baht/year).

Of course the "other" ways of watching it are completely and highly illegal and cannot be discussed here!

I work in Africa and the DSTV Multichoice is by far a a better TV package than the rubbish provided by True. Is it possible to pick up DSTV here in Thailand, theoretically of course? I can get set top box and card when I go back to work, not that I would dream of trying to set it up over here.

[LivinLOS]

Yes you can.

[monty]

Be careful!

For the South African (and Nigerian, different transponder/programming) market, Multichoice transmits on the Ku-band, and all the receivers over there are Ku-band versions with accompanying small (60-90 cm) solid dish.

This Ku-band cannot be received over here (directional beam).

Multichoice also transmits on a non directional C-band beam (basically aimed for the greater African continent) and it is that transmission we can receive in Thailand.

It is equipment for the latter which can work in Thailand. Your South African/Nigerian set-top box/dish combo will not work over here!