Italian pay-TV operator Telepiu is facing major problems in supplying its new subscribers with the Goldbox receivers needed to receive its digital bouquet.

In order to resolve the problem, Telepiu has been reduced to delivering satellite dealers reconditioned first-generation Goldbox receivers. These suffer from a number of drawbacks, including a laborious tuning process, an inability to switch channel positions, slow channel-switching, and occasional ‘blocking’ of the picture.

In order to make up for the lack of Goldbox receivers, Telepiu is reported to have absorbed Philips’ entire stock, so that Philips boxes are now hard to find in the shops. However, several anomalies are being reported with these receivers, too – such as taking 16 minutes to tune in the channels, and a lack of automatic switching on the SCART connector. SMATV installers are also reporting problems, with many receivers unable to tune to all converted transponder frequencies.

These problems may be resolved with the next generation of Goldbox receivers, which are expected to arrive on the European market during the course of next year. Besides a complete reorganisation of the MediaHighway functions required for interactive services and faster and more functional software, the new Goldbox receivers will boast several hardware improvements. Among these is the introduction of a digital audio (DTS) connection, and there is also talk of an IEE port, which would be able to interface with new digital VHS recorders, which are capable of recording the digital signal directly from the source. The new Goldbox will also be compatible with future interactive services, including the new Internet Service for which Canal Plus is currently reported to be in talks with leading firms in the computer sector.