Italian digital operator Stream is set to boost its pay-TV bouquet with the addition of several new channels in the coming months. Two new football channels aimed at fans of the two Rome based clubs, Roma and Lazio will probably be offered as optional services, separate from the basic "Blu Stream" package. The much-talked about adult channel should also see the light of the day, but it is as yet unclear whether it will be an option or a PPV service. From December, Stream subscribers will also be able to tune in to Mediaset’s four TV channels – Canale 5, Italia 1, Rete 5 and Happy Channel, which are already available in Telepiu’s digital package D+. Murdoch’s News Corp Europe, a 33 per cent shareholder in Stream, is expected to bring as dowry children’s channel Fox Kids and possibly NDS’ Videoguard proprietary system used by Sky Digital in the UK. According to industry rumours, Stream could introduce Simulcrypt broadcasts in Irdeto and Videoguard from January 1, 2000. However, in view of the Ital ian legislation which sets July 1, 2000 as the final date for the introduction of open decoders, it is unclear whether this means that Stream and rival Telepiu D+ would have to broadcast in Simulcrypt with three scrambling systems (Seca/Irdeto/Videoguard), or one of the systems would have to be abandoned.