My two cents...
If the government or the networks wish to use accredited equipment for satellite services, that's fine. But why is there no BYO option? Networks have never had an issue letting satellite viewers buy a smart card and use it in equipment of their choice, so why do they now?
It can't be an issue of illegal sharing of the cards. This restriction can still be implemented without needing to restrict the equipment it's used in. Maybe they want more control over the boxes for ongoing support - all customers have the same box so support is easy? Nope, VAST have demonstrated they want nothing to do with the box after you buy it.
Ok, so maybe they want to go down the same road as Freeview, developing a standard for the EPG and the box firmware? Nope. The Altec UEC is hardly a result of Freeview-like standardisation. The firmware is ultra basic and the EPG definitely doesn't adhere to any Australian standards.
So what's the real reason satellite free-to-air channels are locked up tighter than any pay TV channel in the country? Does VAST or the government think satellite viewers have suddenly gone stupid and forgotten what a smartcard is? Do we really need to be spoon fed a service that we've happily enjoyed devouring to our hearts content for decades?
Turn sharing off, divorce every card out there now, and sell cards on their own OR in a box from now on.
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