Samsung, Fransat, Neotion partner for set-top-box free satellite TV

French satellite TV provider Fransat has partnered with Samsung and Neotion to roll out a television that integrates a satellite receiver and digital terrestrial television (DTT) module into the TV, eliminating the need for a service-specific set-top box.

The module will fit Samsung televisions in its 2012 range (ES series), and will accept a Fransat access card; it then can be inserted into the common interface (CI) of the TV, which is pre-equipped with a satellite tuner.

The system uses the CI Plus specification, designed to support the authentication and encryption mechanisms that provide a secure channel between the conditional access module (CAM) and Samsung's integrated digital TV (IDTV). The module was developed by Neotion and uses Viaccess conditional access.

The Fransat model costs about $170.

Fransat, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Communications, offers subscription-free reception in France of 19 DTT channels, four HD channels, the 24 regional windows of the France 3 network and additional regional, local and thematic TV and radio channels.

For more:
- see this release

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