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No Sky News for DTT

(February 2002)

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BC
Blake Connolly Founding member
I know there's been a few Digital Terrestrial viewers on here hoping that, with this expansion of the free channels on DTT to do with the new FTA boxes, Sky News could be appearing on there.

Well, no such luck - according to the MediaGuardian, BSkyB offered to provide it for free when not many other providers are leaping at the chance to put their channels out for free, but Boxco refused. Apparently Sky have taken this as a bit of an insult and think the BBC is trying to take over DTT and refused because Sky News would be in direct competition with News 24.

Quote:
Boxco rejects Sky News offer

Jessica Hodgson
Friday February 1, 2002

The BBC and ITV-led consortium that aims to bring viewers a package of 15 channels in an affordable set-top box for £99, has rejected BSkyB's offer to provide Sky News.

Although it has having difficulty persuading broadcasters to give away their channels free of charge, the consortium has decided it doesn't want the Sky service, on the grounds it already has BBC News 24.

'We offered them Sky News and they turned round and said they don't want it. And the reason is because they have BBC News 24,' said one Sky insider.

The decision has raised eyebrows at BSkyB because of the BBC's pleas to the government to ensure no single digital TV operator, whether satellite, cable or terrestrial, is allowed dominate the market.

'In all their submissions on the cross-ownership issues they go on about how important it is to be wary of giving one platform operator power over another when all the time they are trying to create a BBC platform through the back door,' said one Sky insider.

The Boxco consortium, comprising the BBC, Granada and Carlton, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and set-top box manufacturers Pace and Nokia, is said to be close to announcing an April launch for the new decoders.

The consortium hopes to give a much-needed boost to the take-up of digital television, which has been slow so far, and to combat the threat from Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB.

The BBC is unwilling to put Mr Murdoch's Sky News on the same platform as its own 24-hour news channel.

BBC News 24, although growing in stature, trails Sky News in both the ratings and its reputation for breaking news.


(Edited by Blake Connolly at 12:23 pm on Feb. 1, 2002)
ST
Ste Founding member
Here it is

It is strange coming from the BBC - considering that they are starting childrens channels on Sky Digital (and DTT) that will compete against Nickelodeon etc. but they dont want anyone competing against BBC News 24.

Also what about ITN News Channel? Will this be taken off DTT because they have News 24?

How can Boxco stop them anyway? If Sky were to sign a deal to have Sky News on say the SDN multiplex Boxco couldnt stop people from getting it with their STBs.

I do think that if Sky were to make Sky One FTA on DTT they wouldnt refuse to that on.

Ste

(Edited by Ste at 12:20 pm on Feb. 1, 2002)
GR
thegreenfairy
It's a multiplex, not a transponder!

And apparently, part of the reason may be because ITN News Channel has today extended its hours until 7pm - possibly it will go 24/7 soon so that may be why.

As for FTA Sky One, it seems less likely now that Sky News won't be carried, but it was a definite possibility - and Sky definitely has a contract with C5 for something other than Sunrise.
ST
Ste Founding member
Quote:
Boxco rejects Sky News offer

The decision has raised eyebrows at BSkyB because of the BBC's pleas to the government to ensure no single digital TV operator, whether satellite, cable or terrestrial, is allowed dominate the market.

'In all their submissions on the cross-ownership issues they go on about how important it is to be wary of giving one platform operator power over another when all the time they are trying to create a BBC platform through the back door,' said one Sky insider.


Does News 24 have to be carried on Sky Digital and have place in the EPG?
LS
Larry Scutta
If the BBC pay for the EPG listing then yes they have to be carried - Sky cannot block a channel from it's EPG - Unconditional Access rules
MV
Mr Videowall
Slightly related - who decides on the EPG placement? Sky, or the company in question, e.g. BBC?
MR
mromega2000
Quote:
Mr Videowall on 12:52 pm on Feb. 1, 2002
Slightly related - who decides on the EPG placement? Sky, or the company in question, e.g. BBC?


It's allocated on a first come first served basis with additional space for 2 more channels. If ITV2 had launched on Sky Digital at the start it would have got an EPG number in the low 100's rather than the 226 it got.
CA
CrystalAvenger
In the case of Sky, I think they generally set where channels are placed on the system - hence their neat little system of having 'Entertainment' channels between 101 and 227 (I think), Movies mostly in the 300 range, and so on.

As for DTT, not a clue - but I guess some agreement is made between the broadcaster in question and ITV Digital. Which is a point - when are they going to add some more channels to the line-up to replace those that have closed - in the time I've been a subscriber since November, something like four channels (Taste, Wellbeing, Breeze and Two Way TV - none of which I personally watched anyway to be honest) have all gone off, to be replaced by either nothing or in-store promotional channels... I know there's the new children's channels from the BBC coming in the next week or so, but as a subscriber I'd like to see them replaceing dead channels with something new...

I always thought the idea of having a 'Sky One Lite' on DTT was a bad idea - the channel is dull enough the rest of the day, without them having to cut the decent new programming out of the channel as well.

Also, this 'collapse' is with Boxco - does this mean that there is no chance of Sky News appearing for ITV Digital customers as well?
ST
Ste Founding member
Quote:
CrystalAvenger on 1:08 pm on Feb. 1, 2002

Also, this 'collapse' is with Boxco - does this mean that there is no chance of Sky News appearing for ITV Digital customers as well?


Sky News can still appear on ITV Digital and Boxco. They just wont be able to get free/reduced carrage on the BBC or ITV Digital multiplex. They can pay SDN for carrage or they can use some of Channel 5s space on the SDN mulitplex for carrage. They may allready have a deal with Channel 5 for this.

Its just that if ITV/BBC wont give Sky News free/reduced space on their multiplexes Sky wont give then Sky One or a best of Sky channel for free either, so in the end you just have Sky News for free on SDN multiplex and no free Sky One or Best Of Sky channel.

Ste
GR
thegreenfairy
I don't think Sky would have bothered making Sky One FTA if it could only have been a 'lite' version. They would have sorted out the rights issues first.

I still think Sky News may come to DTT - they can lease space from Channel 5 like we thought they would. 'Boxco' don't actually control anything except the co-ordination of the STB sales.
WH
Whataday Founding member
Quote:
thegreenfairy on 12:15 pm on Feb. 1, 2002
It's a multiplex, not a transponder!

And apparently, part of the reason may be because ITN News Channel has today extended its hours until 7pm - possibly it will go 24/7 soon so that may be why.



ITN News Channel IS 24/7 on ntl.
JA
Jammers Founding member
It is such a shame. Having ITV Digital becauseim not allowed to have Sky due to planning probs mean I really miss Sky News. BBC News 24 doesnt come close im afraid. It would be good if Sky News could launch on ITV DIG as soon as poss. The BBC is worried about competition.

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