Ever heard of Grundverschluesselung?

Two years ago the BBC decided to give up scrambling their satellite broadcasts and start transmitting "in the clear" or "free to air" as it is also called.

Two months ago ITV followed their example. This is very gratifying for those living near Britain, they can now receive all non-subscription British TV programs.

German TV programs have always been unscrambled. Actually, broadcasting in German is in itself a form of scrambling since ever fewer people outside German speaking countries are capable of understanding the language. I am of the old school, I can still understand it. And yes, I watch their TV programs with a simple receiver I bought for 50 euros in a German supermarket.

So guess what the Germans are going to do? Yes, they are going to scramble their satellite broadcasts. Grundverschluesselung they call it. To prevent "overspill", they say. To prevent me from watching without paying. I may be the only foreigner who does that. The last viewer who is now given the boot.

Mind you, they may well have a revolution on their hands if they push this through. There are millions of cheap supermarket receivers around in German homes, all these people will have to buy new equipment of the Skybox type. This will not go down well.

Well atleast I have now got ITV.

Amos


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