Delivery of the modules, which will be used to securely decrypt Top Up TV broadcasts, will begin in May 2004. Top Up TV is a great example of how the Common Interface (CI) standard gives consumers more choices, providing subscribers with 10 additional high quality channels for the price of just £7.99 per month. Top Up TV is the U.K.s first venture into multi-channel pay TV after the launch of Freeview in 2002. Top Up TV was able to take advantage of the existing installed base of ex-ITV Digital (On Digital) receivers, estimated to be in the region of 600,000-800,000 units, by using the receivers’ built-in security hardware with compatible security modules from SCM. Many other digital receivers and IDTVs also currently allow the use of security modules to decrypt broadcast content, meaning consumers can also purchase new devices to receive Top Up TV. Currently compatible devices include the majority of IDTVs and set-top boxes, such as the Nokia 221 and Netgem I-player, with manufacturers bringing more and more models to market that will be able to take advantage of the new Top Up TV service. U.K. distributor Turbosat has been chosen to manage the sale of Top Up TV security modules in the U.K. through major retailers such as Dixons Stores Group. SCM has already received an initial order of 10,000 Top Up TV modules from Turbosat.
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