Sky Sports Dots on UPC

Infoanon

Sky Sports 1 - 4 on UPC have an image of 10 dots on the bottom right hand of the screen.

Sky Sports on Sky does not have this image/dog - an anti-pirating move perhaps ?

icdg

Do you mean the UPC DOG that is on the commercial feeds of Sky Sports in some areas? I've noticed that in some pubs alright though it seems to be a very recent thing. Never noticed anything on the domestic feeds. Worth noting that both the domestic and commercial feeds of Sky Sports on satellite have sported anti-piracy devices for some time now - the commercial feed carries a "pint glass" DOG (to ensure pubs are using the correct feed) while the domestic feed sometimes sports the customer's viewing card number (which I presume is actually generated by the STB).

Infoanon

icdg wrote: »

Do you mean the UPC DOG that is on the commercial feeds of Sky Sports in some areas? I've noticed that in some pubs alright though it seems to be a very recent thing. Never noticed anything on the domestic feeds.

I haven't seen the UPC dog on commercial feeds - I was viewing a domestic feed - the 'Dog' - the small dots in the lower right hand side - remain there this evening - I don't recall seeing them there prior to yesterday.

who_me

Yeah, I saw this too recently; a row of horizontal white dots in the bottom right corner. Didn't check last night if it was still there.

djimi

For the first time today Ive seen them stamp the viewing card number on screen. Typically though unlike Sky its not done discreetly, and instead is stamped in big ugly numbers on the top of the screen. Ridiculous nonsense; I dont pay €35 a month to have some on screen rubbish printed on the screen...

djimi

djimi wrote: »

For the first time today Ive seen them stamp the viewing card number on screen. Typically though unlike Sky its not done discreetly, and instead is stamped in big ugly numbers on the top of the screen. Ridiculous nonsense; I dont pay €35 a month to have some on screen rubbish printed on the screen...

Sounds like another case of DRM only impacting legitimate viewers. Pirates would most likely use illegal means to stream the channel anyway.

devnull

The idea no doubt is they see the card number on the stream, that comes from the related box, and then this allows them to disable the card pretty much straight away, therefore killing the stream.

dohboy

Are these definitely some anti-pirating measure? Noticed them in the last few days and now I'm all curious.

djimi

dohboy wrote: »

Are these definitely some anti-pirating measure? Noticed them in the last few days and now I'm all curious.

Yeah Sky do it also.

who_me

Ugh... now the card number is appearing in big numbers at the top-right hand side of the screen (in addition to the small dots at the bottom right). Why is this appearing if I'm a paying Sky Sports subscriber and UPC are legally broadcasting the channel? It looks incredibly unprofessional.

devnull

I explained it above - it's so they see what numbers appear on the stream and then they can cut that viewing card number off.

forzacalcio

devnull wrote: »

I explained it above - it's so they see what numbers appear on the stream and then they can cut that viewing card number off.

Thats not the point he is making. I for one agree. I dont pay a huge subscription to have big numbers sprawled across the screen..

devnull

So you are happy to pay higher bills yes?

Because that is the end result of piracy, the more people who stream things online and watch streams the less people who subscribe, the less people who pay subscriptions the higher price the rest of us pay.

xtal191

devnull wrote: »

I explained it above - it's so they see what numbers appear on the stream and then they can cut that viewing card number off.

But they could probably zoom the image or change the aspect ratio and the numbers wont appear on the stream

who_me

devnull wrote: »

I explained it above - it's so they see what numbers appear on the stream and then they can cut that viewing card number off.

Ah, so it's related to online re-streaming? Thats' the bit I didn't understand.

Still not happy with it though. There are other ways to shut down those illegally re-streaming content, without pissing off those who are paying for the service.

Mountjoy Mugger

It's been on Sky via satellite for ages, lads. I'm guessing UPC have had their feed switched or else have had extra conditions imposed.

forzacalcio

devnull wrote: »

So you are happy to pay higher bills yes?

Because that is the end result of piracy, the more people who stream things online and watch streams the less people who subscribe, the less people who pay subscriptions the higher price the rest of us pay.

Rubbish, If twice as many people subscribed the price would be the exact same.

who_me

forzacalcio wrote: »

Rubbish, If twice as many people subscribed the price would be the exact same.

Yeah, that's unfortunately true.

Once they have enough subscribers to cover their costs, the end price is set by how much they think the subscribers are willing to pay. It no longer has any link/relationship to their costs.

wandatowell

Sky is way over priced for what you are getting.

Refuse to give them a penny.

zg3409

UPC have just recently changed the terms and conditions to:

Also certain TV providers require a unique identifier to be placed on some of their events. We have highlighted the exact changes being made to your terms and conditions please refer to the attachments below to see the amendments being made.

From:
http://www.upc.ie/termsandconditions/

TsarBomba

I've been noticing that my remote freezes when on Sky Sports and a 13 digit number appears beside the Sky Sports logo occasionally and goes away when I press the UPC button. Anyone else finding this?

G-unit10

Thread a bit old now I know but am I right in saying that the dots mean the match or programme is available in HD? The dots do not appear on the HD channel. The number is obviously for a different reason as above.