Real Digital: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
I have this morning spoken to Real Digital on the phone who have confirmed the company is still trading as normal. They are not defunct. Staff are still there, offices still open etc. |
)wikipedia works and information that can be proved not phone calls. I could say I phoned branson and hes selling virgin would not make it true now would it. Proof at the min says its gone |
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{{Infobox company |
{{Infobox company |
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| name = Real Digital |
| name = Real Digital TV Limited |
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| logo = [[File:Real Digital logo.jpg|200px]] |
| logo = [[File:Real Digital logo.jpg|200px]] |
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| launch = December 2011 |
| launch = December 2011 |
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| defunct = 31 March 2012 |
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| location_city = [[London]] |
| location_city = [[London]] |
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| location_country = [[England]], [[United Kingdom]] |
| location_country = [[England]], [[United Kingdom]] |
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| products = [[Direct broadcast satellite]] |
| products = [[Direct broadcast satellite]] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Real Digital''' |
'''Real Digital''' was the brand name for a digital [[satellite television]] and [[satellite radio|radio]] service in the United Kingdom which transmitted from [[SES S.A.]]'s [[Astra (satellites)|Astra]] satellites located at [[Astra 28.2°E|28.2° east]] ([[Astra 2A]]/[[Astra 2B|2B]]/[[Astra 2D|2D]]/[[Astra 1N|1N]]) and [[Eutelsat]]'s [[Eutelsat 28A|28A]] satellite at 28.5°E. The service ceased on 31 March 2012 without production boxes reaching retail stores. Real Digital had also planned to launch in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realdigitaltv.com/about.html|title=This is the real deal|publisher=Real Digital|accessdate=29 December 2011}}</ref> |
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Real Digital |
Real Digital offered two kinds of [[set-top box]]es, one with a single tuner and the other with a dual tuner [[Digital video recorder|PVR]]. They were manufactured by [[Fortec Star]] and [[Digital Stream]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realdigitaltv.com/entry007_maplins%20online.html|title=First Production run finished!|publisher=Real Digital|date=21 November 2011}}</ref> |
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Real Digital's main competitors |
Real Digital's main competitors were [[Freesat]], [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]] and [[Virgin Media]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/40565/real-digital-takes-on-freesat|title=Real Digital: The new alternative to Freesat|publisher=Pocket-lint|date=16 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="Freesat and Sky rival">{{cite web|url=http://www.cable.co.uk/news/freesat-and-sky-rival-real-digital-set-for-uk-launch-800770480/|title=Freesat and Sky rival Real Digital set for UK launch|publisher=Cable.co.uk|date=20 October 2011}}</ref> |
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Real Digital only offered [[free-to-air]] channels which had been available on other platforms for several years. They did intend to offer [[pay television]] packages by spring 2012 which would have included [[Sky Sports]] 1 and 2 and a high definition version of Blackbelt TV.<ref name="Freesat and Sky rival" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a284464/real-digital-eyes-sky-sports-launch-offer.html|title=Real Digital eyes Sky Sports launch offer|publisher=Digital Spy|date=27 October 2011}}</ref> Subscription packages were to be made available on a month-by-month basis, without a contract or minimum subscription period. Additionally, [[pay-per-view]] services were also due at this time. Support for the [[BBC iPlayer]] and [[ITV Player]] [[video on demand]] services had also been announced.<ref name="Freesat and Sky rival" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://realdigitaltv.com/entry006_dst.html|title=Sneak Peak|publisher=Real Digital|date=12 September 2011}}</ref> |
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==Technical information== |
==Technical information== |
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The service |
The service made use of the same fleet of satellites as [[Freesat]] and [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]], [[Astra 28.2°E]] and [[Eutelsat 28A]]. This meant that any satellite dish which was positioned to receive these services was capable of receiving Real Digital, with the addition of a suitable receiver. Providing the LNB ([[low-noise block downconverter]]) had sufficient outputs, the one dish is able to receive multiple services. For their proposed pay TV offering, Real Digital used a [[Conax]] [[conditional access]] system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realdigitaltv.com/entry003_conax.html|title=Conax and Real Digital|publisher=Real Digital|date=30 March 2011}}</ref> |
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== |
==Failure== |
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Before launch, the company had missed many promised launch dates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/201010278507/competition-tribunal-to-judge-on-real-dth-alternative-to-sky-sports.html|title=Competition tribunal to judge on REAL DTH alternative to Sky Sports|publisher=Rapid TV News|date=27 October 2010}}</ref> which led to many believing the service would never launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uksatellitehelp.co.uk/2011/08/12/real-digital-to-finally-launch/|title=Real Digital to finally launch…?|publisher=UKSatelliteHelp|date=12 August 2011}}</ref> |
Before launch, the company had missed many promised launch dates,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/201010278507/competition-tribunal-to-judge-on-real-dth-alternative-to-sky-sports.html|title=Competition tribunal to judge on REAL DTH alternative to Sky Sports|publisher=Rapid TV News|date=27 October 2010}}</ref> which led to many believing the service would never launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uksatellitehelp.co.uk/2011/08/12/real-digital-to-finally-launch/|title=Real Digital to finally launch…?|publisher=UKSatelliteHelp|date=12 August 2011}}</ref> |
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Test boxes were received by reviewers and a small number of beta-testers in January 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wotsat.com/news/article.asp?a=10205|title=Real Digital PVR- £300|publisher=What Satellite and Digital TV|accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref> however by March 2012 production boxes still had not reached any retail stores. |
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| ⚫ | On 31 March 2012 at midnight, the lease of the transponder on [[Eutelsat]]'s [[Eutelsat 28A]] satellite ran out.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} This 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realdigitaltv.com/entry010_maintenance.html|title=Maintenance|publisher=Real Digital|date=31 March 2012}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | On 31 March 2012 at midnight, the lease of the transponder on [[Eutelsat]]'s [[Eutelsat 28A]] satellite ran out.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} This 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realdigitaltv.com/entry010_maintenance.html|title=Maintenance|publisher=Real Digital|date=31 March 2012}}</ref> {{As of|2012|05}}, the stream has not returned and the last update provided by Real Digital on 11 April 2012 claimed that work had halted due to the [[Easter]] break.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/REALDigitalTV/posts/398075800210364?comment_id=5117378&offset=0&total_comments=4|title=Looks like it's...|publisher=Facebook|date=11 April 2012}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 09:20, 3 May 2012
 | |
| Defunct | 31 March 2012 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Fred Perkins (CEO) |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite |
| Website | www |
Real Digital was the brand name for a digital satellite television and radio service in the United Kingdom which 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. The service ceased on 31 March 2012 without production boxes reaching retail stores. Real Digital had also planned to launch in Ireland.[1]
Real Digital offered two kinds of set-top boxes, one with a single tuner and the other with a dual tuner PVR. They were manufactured by Fortec Star and Digital Stream.[2]
Real Digital's main competitors were Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.[3][4]
Real Digital only offered free-to-air channels which had been available on other platforms for several years. They did intend to offer pay television packages by spring 2012 which would have included Sky Sports 1 and 2 and a high definition version of Blackbelt TV.[4][5] Subscription packages were to be made available on a month-by-month basis, without a contract or minimum subscription period. Additionally, pay-per-view services were also due at this time. Support for the BBC iPlayer and ITV Player video on demand services had also been announced.[4][6]
Technical information
The service made use of the same fleet of satellites as Freesat and Sky, Astra 28.2°E and Eutelsat 28A. This meant that any satellite dish which was positioned to receive these services was capable of receiving Real Digital, with the addition of a suitable receiver. Providing the LNB (low-noise block downconverter) had sufficient outputs, the one dish is able to receive multiple services. For their proposed pay TV offering, Real Digital used a Conax conditional access system.[7]
Failure
Before launch, the company had missed many promised launch dates,[8] which led to many believing the service would never launch.[9]
Test boxes were received by reviewers and a small number of beta-testers in January 2012,[10] however by March 2012 production boxes still had not reached any retail stores.
On 31 March 2012 at midnight, the lease of the transponder on Eutelsat's Eutelsat 28A satellite ran out.[citation needed] This 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.[11] As of May 2012[update], the stream has not returned and the last update provided by Real Digital on 11 April 2012 claimed that work had halted due to the Easter break.[12]
See also
References
- ^ "This is the real deal". Real Digital. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "First Production run finished!". Real Digital. 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Real Digital: The new alternative to Freesat". Pocket-lint. 16 June 2011.
- ^ a b c "Freesat and Sky rival Real Digital set for UK launch". Cable.co.uk. 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Real Digital eyes Sky Sports launch offer". Digital Spy. 27 October 2011.
- ^ "Sneak Peak". Real Digital. 12 September 2011.
- ^ "Conax and Real Digital". Real Digital. 30 March 2011.
- ^ "Competition tribunal to judge on REAL DTH alternative to Sky Sports". Rapid TV News. 27 October 2010.
- ^ "Real Digital to finally launch…?". UKSatelliteHelp. 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Real Digital PVR- £300". What Satellite and Digital TV. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Maintenance". Real Digital. 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Looks like it's..." Facebook. 11 April 2012.
External links
