Sky to launch a pay-TV digital terrestrial service

ITV and C4 joined the Freeview consortium in 2005:
http://www.itvplc.com/itv/news/releases/pr2005/2005-10-12a/

I think this move is definately the wrong one for Free-to-view television, but is very clever on the part of Sky. Sky Sports and Sky Movies will be available to everyone come 2012 when to switchover is completed. Sky will have the power to recruit subscribers from all the platforms (assuming Virgin keep them on, which I am sure they will).

It's rumoured that Sky have scrapped their plans for a pay TV service on DTT.

Payview is junked.

If this is true, it would be interesting to know the reasons behind it.

Was the announcement nothing more than an attempt to overshadow Virgin Media's launch?

Or have Sky realised that losing Freeview viewers after losing Virgin viewers is going to put a big dent in their advertising revenues?

I think that's what many have long suspected. I also don't think it's been well received at all - most Freeview viewers on various forumers have been more angry about losing the free Sky channels than enthusiastic about signing up to their proposed pay-DTT offering.


Considering the prices involved for just one Sky Sports channel and one Sky Movies channel would probably mean a monthly subscription of at least £25 - most people willing to pay that sort of money would rather go to Sky direct.

Ofcom seem to have rejected the Sky proposal for Sky Pay TV on Freeview

From BrandRepublic.

It seems to centre around the fact they Ofcom won't allow them to remove Sky News from the existing licence.

Major turnaround that will please everyone.

Ofcom saying 'no' for a change? Has to be good news.

Brilliant news - though to be honest I don't think Sky will be too upset!

OFCOM haven't said no to anything - just want to look into things a bit more.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2080019,00.html

I'd better take the balloons down.