i-CAN has become the first Freeview HD brand to offer Sky Sports, thanks to a deal with Top Up TV.
A software update, which will be available from both i-CAN's and Top Up TV's websites, adds the extra functionality to existing i-CAN Easy HD Freeview HD boxes.
Those who have yet to buy an i-CAN Easy HD box will be pleased to hear that the pay service will be installed on to all new boxes which go on sale in the next couple of weeks.
Only one offering
The update means that users will be able to sign up to both Sky Sports (1 & 2) and ESPN through their i-CAN setup.
i-CAN spokesperson Karl Tempest-Mitchell said about the announcement: "We are proud to be the only company currently offering TV viewers in the UK the combination of Freeview HD and SD channels, iPlayer catch-up HD content from the BBC and premium sports, movies and entertainment channels from Top Up TV."
Although this is something of an exclusive for i-CAN at the moment, expect many more Freeview HD box manufacturers to get this update soon, as all new boxes have been primed to receive firmware updates that add extra functionality.
Just this week, Humax announced a small update for the HD-FOX T2, which brings Dolby Digital 5.1 improvements, resolved reminder issues and resolved subtitle issues.
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brianjgregory
September 20th 2010
1. The ADB i-CAN Easy HD 2851T is as good as Marc Chacksfield's review suggests: the EPG is easy-to-use & clear, the up-scaled picture is crisp; & overall the product is excellent value.
However, it has one major & (in my view) unforgiveable flaw: it doesn't do what it says on the tin.
The i-CAN website carries a Press Release boasting - & your article suggests - that the i-CAN Easy HD 2851T is enabled plug-&-play for TOP UP TV's ESPN & Sky Sports 1 & 2 package. The one I bought in mid-August 2010 is not. The card slot is inactive.
Neither the product's UK vendor, nor TOP UP TV, currently have the promised software upgrade which facilitates this (nor, indeed, any awareness of its existence!).
This is needed to unlock the slot; enable NAGRA encrpytion & so allow access to the three Sports channels which the product is being advertised as capable of displaying - in clear contravention of the UK Trades Descriptions Acts.
Since I bought the 2851T in preference to the Icecrypt T2200 for this reason only; I am mightily peeved at the poor customer service backup curerently being provided by ADB
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