Question
I have a TV that has a Common Interface slot. I am wondering if I can get Sky Sports with a card or do I need to purchase some sort of box?
Submitted by Elaine
Our Answer
Most new TV sets come with a CI (Common Interface) slot. These require what’s known as a CAM (Conditional Access Module) to work. A CAM accepts a TV subscription card.
Here’s a picture of a CAM being slid into a TV set’s CI slot:
With a subscription card inserted into a CAM, that’s then inserted into a TV set, you are able to watch encrypted TV channels.
At time of writing, TV sets with a CI Slot can only be used to decode one TV channel, and that’s ESPN, the sports channel.
How do I get ESPN?
If you want to use your TV set’s CI socket for ESPN, you can get a viewing card and a CAM from Top Up TV.
What about Sky Sports?
At the moment, you can’t get Sky Sports 1 or Sky Sports 2 using a CI slot, CAM and subscription card. This is because Sky does not believe that the Cam/ CI technology is secure enough, and accordingly, for Sky Sports, you’ll need a set-top box.
That having been said, at the end of 2010, the UK regulator OfCom upheld a complaint from Top Up TV, and it looks like Sky will be required to support a CAM in the future. It’s expected that older CI slots may not work though, and you’d need a TV that has a CI+ slot. At the time of writing, it’s still not possible to use a CI slot for Sky Sports, and we’ll update this article as soon as a solution is offered.
How to get Sky Sports on Freeview
As we explain above, you can use a CI slot for ESPN, but not for Sky (yet). To get Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, you need a set-top box with a suitable card slot, and a subscription card.
Top Up TV is offering two boxes:
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You can order a set-top box and get a subscription card direct from Top Up TV: Visit www.topuptv.com/skysports
Alternatives
As an alternative to a Top Up TV set-top box, you can get Sky Sports from Sky (using satellite), Virgin Media (using its cable TV service), or online using Sky Go.
hey ive just read this article after looking on top up tvs website
i have a tv with a cl slot but not cl+ has there been away around it yet?
id like to have sky sports 1 in my new apartment without a box
thanks
I would like to buy one of these cards, can you please tell me the cost and if I have to pay a subscription after
Am in need of a cam module how can i get it please? Indicate price on your replay.
Is there an update to this article? Has Sky developed a CI card? Is the court de ision valid for the entire EU?
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