© 2010 Rapid TV News
Jörn Krieger ©RapidTVNews | 09-03-2010
Switzerland’s largest cable operator Cablecom will offer its customers the possibility of receiving its digital TV package through set-top-boxes and TV sets with an integrated digital-TV tuner purchased in the open retail market from June 1. The precondition is that the devices contain a CI+ common interface slot.
The DigiCard set necessary for reception, which consists of a CI+ conditional access module and a smartcard, will be available for a one-off fee of CHF99 (€68), with no further costs.
With the move, Cablecom is reacting to the planned adoption of a new prescription in domestic media law which will force cable operators to offer their customers the option of subscribing to a basic package using receivers bought in the open retail market.
Until now, the company, which is owned by US-based media concern Liberty Global, only permitted reception of its digital package using receivers offered by Cablecom itself. That strategy was strongly criticised by Switzerland’s consumer watchdogs.
The digital basic package, which is receivable through Cablecom boxes and third-party devices using the DigiCard solution, comprises 55 TV and 70 radio channels including HDTV service HD suisse as well as internet access with 330 Kbit/s for CHF23.20 per month. Cablecom serves around 1.5 million households of which more than 400,000 currently receive the digital offer.
© Rapid TV News 2010
