Computer Software

Conditional access (CA) lets viewers choose what to watch from thousands of programs at the touch of a button. This pay per view technology also lets parents block shows and games the don’t want their kids to watch. All thanks to the little top boxes that sit on their television sets. This non technical article presents conditional access for home viewing.

Satellite Broadcasts – Conditional Access

Conditional Access enables broadcasters to block programs from some viewers and charge others to see the show. Broadcast options such as pay-per-view (PPV), video-on-demand (VOD) and broadcast video are all based on conditional access technology. The basis of conditional access technology rests on scrambling and descrambling the pictures on your screen. Just as important is entitlement and entitlement management to determine which viewers are permitted to the see the show and block other viewers.

Satellite digital TV – Conditional Access

While digital TV and conditional access seem to have been here forever, they are relative new comers compared to movies. The conditional access digital TV standards were first finalized in 1993. Since then, conditional access enables broadcasts and billing for satellite broadcasters, cable and terrestrial stations. Satellite Digital TV stations are major conditional access users and vital to their financial growth and product development.

Scrambling / Descrambling – Conditional Access

Conditional access is the gate keeper that lets subscribers see the show and makes the show incomprehensible to unauthorized users. Entitlement checking takes place simultaneously with the broadcasting of the show controlled by the conditional access gate keeper. The show broadcast also includes encrypted codes – “Control Words” – to enable the descrambling for authorized viewers with conditional access permission. These codes are sent inside dedicated messages called entitlement control messages for the “top box” on your TV set to decode.

Entitlement Management – Conditional Access

The entitlement management function consists of distributing entitlements to receivers. There are several kinds of entitlements that match different levels of subscriber service: As we all know, the most popular are monthly and pay per view. This info is sent inside dedicated messages entitlement management messages and Shazam! There’s the show you wanted to see, now all you need is a cold drink, popcorn and some friends to enjoy the show.

You’ve seen the online and offline ads — “Free satellite TV!” “Get a 4-room Satellite TV System Free!” and “Satellite TV Dish and Receivers Absolutely Free!”

But is satellite TV really free?

The answer to that question is yes … and no.

Yes, the equipment you get — the satellite TV dish and satellite TV receiver — is free. But no, the programming service will cost you money.

Let’s examine the facts.

Due to the demise of Pegasus and Voom, there are only two major satellite TV providers in the USA — DISH Network and DIRECTV.

DISH Network Satellite TV Service

When you order a free satellite TV system from DISH Network, you will be asked to pay a $49.99 activation fee. This fee will be credited to your programming bill, so in essence, your satellite TV system is free. Installation of your satellite TV system is also free.

With DISH Network you have the option to upgrade to a DVR (digital video recording) receiver, or an HDTV (high definition TV) receiver at no charge.

DISH Network programming starts at $31.99 per month for 60 program channels, and goes up to $86.00 for 230 channels including Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, and Sirius radio.

DISH Network offers more movies, shows, and HDTV than cable or DIRECTV, and with one of their free DVR receivers you can record, pause, and fast forward live TV with a click of your remote. All DISH Network programs are broadcast in digital format for crystal-clear picture and sound.

DIRECTV Satellite TV Service

Depending on your credit rating, when you order a free satellite TV system from DIRECTV you may be required to pay a deposit or prepayment. Because the deposit is refunded to you and the prepayment goes toward your programming fees, the DIRECTV satellite dish and receivers are free. Installation is also free.

If you want a DVR receiver you will be charged an additional $49.99. The charge for HDTV receivers is $299.99.

DIRECTV programming packages start at $41.99 per month for 115 channels (including 31 music channels), and go up to $93.99 per month for 185 program channels, including Showtime, Starz!, HBO, Cinemax, and 31 music channels.

DIRECTV offers more sports programs than you can get with cable or DISH Network, including the popular NFL Sunday Ticket, and is broadcast in all-digital format.

The Bottom Line

Both DISH Network and DIRECTV’s basic satellite TV dishes and receivers are free … but the service will cost you anywhere from $32 to $94 a month.

So if you watch just a few television programs a week and have access to over-the-air TV, or if you have cable TV and are happy with your service, then satellite TV probably isn’t for you.

If, on the other hand, TV is one of your primary forms of entertainment and you want the biggest variety of shows, movies, sports, and new — or if your cable bill is beginning to equal your mortgage payment — then satellite TV may be just the ticket.

Conditional access (CA) controls access to digital television (DTV) services via encrypting programs people watch. It’s like the “umpire” in a ball game that calls your TV signal “safe” and lets you watch the show you want to see. There are various conditional access technologies, although they are all based on ATSC and DVB-compliant CA systems.

Conditional access has three basic elements: broadcast equipment, set-top box, and security module. The broadcast equipment generates encrypted programs transmitted to your television or cell phone. The interactive TV set-top box filters your signals and passes them on to the security module. The security module authorizes these programs for decryption. The programs are decrypted in real time and sent back to the set-top box for display. It’s like at the ball game, the pitcher looks at the catcher, the catcher at the batter, the batter at the third base coach and the third base coach at the bat boy. If every one’s set, he pitches the ball.

Subscriber Management System (SMS) – Interactive TV
The brains of Interactive TV are in the Set-top box on top of your TV set. Your subscriber management system requests the permission to provide the authorization needed to view the programs. Other systems acts as a backup system in case your left stranded on third base..

Subscriber Authorization System (SAS) – Interactive TV
The clean up hitter in your access system responsible, waves your signal so you can watch the ball game on TV with your kids. There is also has a security module so you can keep your kids from watching gulls mate and people from charging their TV shows to your account. The Interactive TV wizards thought of everything… they even built a converter to watch digital
signal on your old TV set – the one had since your team won the World Series twenty five years ago.

Amazing technologies like Interactive TV are costly to develop, operate and upgrade. With out conditional access, the only way many people would see their favorite team is out at the ball park. Also, Believe it or not, many people go to the ball game and watch replays on cell phones powered by… Hey, I think he just hit a home run!