topic Re: Pin number oddity in Sky Stream

Pin number oddity

SteveWac — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:00:51 GMT

I have set all the PIN options to off, yet I am still asked for the PIN when I watch content rated as 12 or above....

This evening I watched Bourne ultimatum on sky5 movies, it started at 8pm and is rated 15, no PIN requested. It finished at 9:50 so I switched to Sky box set to watch the last few minutes of the Hobbit, rated 12A and I was asked for a PIN....

Completely baffled by this annoying feature which seems to be enabled on content randomly.

Re: Pin number oddity

TimmyBGood — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:05:13 GMT

@SteveWac

Mandatory Daytime Protection is required by Ofcom and specifically cannot be removed by a subscriber: platform PIN options are in addition to MDP.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/mandatory-daytime-protection

Yes, application of MDP is sometimes wayward (and particularly so for on-demand content) : channel operators would typically prefer to over-apply it rather than risk being censured, fined or even losing their broadcast licence.

Incidentally the BBFC says Ultimatum is a 12

Re: Pin number oddity

SteveWac — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:51:32 GMT

I still do not understand the difference between a program aired over Freeview on Skymix channel, such a Star trek Voyager or Next Genation at 6pm or 7pm, which has episodes rated at 12, without asking for a PIN and the same episode aired on Sky steam at the same time on the same channel where you are asked to enter a PIN.

Re: Pin number oddity

SteveWac — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:29:45 GMT

I read some of the Ofcom article, it seems to state content unsuitable for children should be covered with an MDP if aired before 9pm.

Okay, so what does Ofcom mean by material unsuitable for children?

Here is a quote from this page.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/what-is-the-watershed

"What do you mean by unsuitable material?

Unsuitable material can include everything from sexual content to violence, graphic or distressing imagery and swearing. For example, the most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed on TV or, on radio, when children are particularly likely to be listening. Frequent use of offensive language must be avoided before the watershed, and must always be justified by its context."

It appears programs can be aired before 9pm/do not need a MDP depending on the content.

It therefore appears that sky have just taken the easiest route and added an MDP to all content rated above PG aired before 9pm.

Re: Pin number oddity

Hunter2660 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:03:40 GMT

This is one of those annoying things about Glass/Stream. I think once you put in the pin specially on a live channel, it should clear it for the next programme. But no the damn thing wants another pin when the next programme starts. Interestingly on Now I never get asked for a pin.... Go figure.

Re: Pin number oddity

SteveWac — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:24:36 GMT

It's just poorly implemented. I'm not asked for a PIN when I watch the same program at the same time on the same channel. The mandatory PIN thing is just an example of the nanny state, surely it's up to the child's parent to manage what content they watch, not for Ofcom to mandate everyone has to use a PIN even when there are no children in the house.

I think after my 2 years are up I'll stop Sky stream, the device does not seem powerful enough (may have been several years ago when released), the data compression on channels is very high which manifests itself in posterisation in dark scenes on my OLED TV, which is a shame as it negates the HD channel.

I have 500mb fibre and the steam puck is connected using an ethernet cable. Why can't the content compression use this amount of speed if available?

I may do what others have said which is buy a device and use the Now TV app instead

Re: Pin number oddity

TimmyBGood — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:36:26 GMT

@SteveWac wrote:

It therefore appears that sky have just taken the easiest route and added an MDP to all content rated above PG aired before 9pm.

Quite possibly.

Re: Pin number oddity

TimmyBGood — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:24:59 GMT

@SteveWac wrote:

The mandatory PIN thing is just an example of the nanny state, surely it's up to the child's parent to manage what content they watch, not for Ofcom to mandate everyone has to use a PIN even when there are no children in the house.

Mandatory Daytime Protection was essentially a result of the moral panic (for some reason largely generated by newspapers outside the Murdoch stable) about the arrival of 'foreign' owned satellite television leading to corruption and decadence.

And yes, it's absolutely the role of Ofcom to implement Parliamentary legislation: while it might be widely acknowledged that the current system isn't fit for purpose in the age of streaming (or even VHS), no Government over several decades has chosen to reform it.

The state has been nannying consumption of television content ever since television was a thing, and that's extremely unlikely to change: I'm not aware of any nation on the planet which doesn't see it as one of their fundamental roles.