BSkyB to launch a new DTT subscription service on “Freeview” platform

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is to launch a new subscription service of four channels available on digital terrestrial television. The existing Sky channels will then cease to be freely available on Freeview.
Viewers will need a new set-top box to receive the service, which will use MPEG-4 digital video compression, allowing four channels of news, sport, entertainment and movies to be squeezed into the place of the three Sky channels currently available on Freeview in the United Kingdom.
The launch of a premium service from Sky is a further challenge to Top Up TV, which offers additional pay-television services on the existing digital terrestrial television platform, recently moving to a push video-on-demand model.
It is also a response to Sports broadcaster Setanta, which acquired some of the rights to Premiership football and recently announced the launch of premium sports coverage on Freeview through Top-Up TV.
Source: BskyB
Item added: 13th February 2007