Some channels on 2D are encrypted with Videoguard (a proprietary encryption method by the NDS Group) and only Sky Digiboxes with valid cards, or standard hardware with non-approved (with respect to the Sky/NDS end-user contract) "Dragon", or "T-Rex" Conditional Access Modules can decode these channels.
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While active, most of Astra 2D's transponders were used to provide television channels available on the Sky Digital satellite service to both Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as the non-subscription service, Freesat.
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The BBC broadcast all of its domestic television channels (including BBC HD and the regional variations) from the Astra 2D satellite, except the BBC News Channel and BBC Parliament which broadcast from Astra 2A.
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Channel 4 broadcast most of its channels free to air from this satellite, including Channel 4, Channel 4+1, E4, More4 and Film4 along with their timeshift variants.
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ITV also broadcast all its television channels (including regional variations of ITV1, and STV and UTV) from the Astra 2D satellite.
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Channels on Astra 2D started to transfer to Astra 1N in December with Channel 5 (plus 5* and 5USA), the Channel 4 family and ITV channels all moving to the new satellite over the next two months.
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Provision of rights-sensitive broadcasts Free to air was made possible by the satellite's beam that was tightly focused on Ireland and the United Kingdom.
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It is a Hughes HS-376 craft, and was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in December 2000 to join Astra 2A and Astra 2B at 28.2°E, where it has remained for its active life.
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From November 2008, Five began to transmit free to air for the first time on Astra 2D, using borrowed space on a BBC transponder, allowing the channel to join Freesat.
Astra | SES Astra | Vauxhall Astra | Astra (satellites) | Astra 19.2°E | Opel Astra | Astra 28.2°E | Astra 1A | Astra 23.5°E | SES ASTRA | IAI Astra | FC Astra Giurgiu | Astra-Torres airship | Astra (satellite) | Astra 1N | Astra 1B | Radio Astra | Astra-Unceta y Cia SA | Astra International | Astra 2D | Astra 1E | Ad Astra Rocket Company | Ad Astra Aero |
Real Digital is the brand name for a digital satellite television and radio service in the United Kingdom which was transmitted from SES S.A.'s Astra satellites located at 28.2° east (Astra 2A/2B/2D/1N) and Eutelsat's 28A satellite at 28.5°E.