BBC and ITV announce subscription-free digital satellite service coming Spring 2008
The BBC has been given approval by the BBC Trust to launch a nationwide free-to-view digital satellite service in a joint venture with ITV.
Currently named "freesat", consumers will be able to access up to 200 channels, plus full digital satellite interactivity, and high definition capability, without the need to pay a subscription.
They will be able to choose from a range of equipment ranging from standard definition and high definition receivers, a high definition PVR, and integrated digital television, plus a range of installation options.
The service is planned to launch in the spring of 2008. (freesat launched on 6th May 2008)
Naturally, the heads of both channels talked excitedly about the new deal.
BBC Director-General, Mark Thompson, said, "The BBC's objective in launching Freesat is to support Digital Switchover by providing another way for licence payers to receive digital television channels and radio services, subscription free from the BBC and ITV.
"Its primary purpose is to drive digital take-up in analogue homes, particularly in those areas which are out of digital terrestrial coverage.
"Freesat also offers a trusted free-to-view digital upgrade path that gives licence payers all the benefits of digital television (notably high definition capability) guaranteed free of subscription."
ITV Executive Chairman, Michael Grade, said: "Freesat will build on the success of Freeview by offering viewers a simple and cost effective way of upgrading to digital TV. By filling in the current gaps in Freeview coverage, Freesat will ensure that a free-to-air, no strings attached option for accessing digital TV is available to the whole of the UK ahead of digital switchover.
"By offering HD capability we will future proof Freesat if, as expected, high definition television continues to capture the imagination of UK viewers."
The proposal is supported by the UK Government, whose recent White Paper on the BBC Charter stated that they were keen to ensure that consumers have as wide a choice as possible of how they get digital TV.
On the surface, this sounds like really exciting news. With the BBC's commitment to HD, and Michael Grade's call for free high definition TV, we should expect a decent amount of high definition content on the platform.
It will be interesting to see how Sky and Virgin Media respond to this news.
More comment, reaction, and opinion to come.
This all sounds great in principle, but note how there's no mention of C4 or C5. Hardly a viable alternative to Freeview when a chunk of the basic channels are missing.
Unless that issue is addressed, the solution will go nowhere.
Posted by: Clem Dye | April 30, 2007 11:40 AM