SMG plans UK-wide digital channels

SMG is looking to launch a suite of digital satellite channels across the UK to rival ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC.

Unlike the leading UK broadcasters, the Glasgow-based owner of STV and Grampian Television currently only broadcasts as part of the ITV network.

Sean Duffy, business development manager of SMG’s broadcast events and solutions division, said it was important for the company to compete on the national stage to protect advertising revenues as ITV audiences migrate to minority channels.

He said: “We need a digital TV presence. We are going to be announcing something in the next couple of months. We are very active at the moment in this area, but I would not like to say [a launch] is going to be three months, six months or nine months.”

Full story - www.sundayherald.com/47656

Interesting, remember in the old analogue days, they had a UK-wide channel Sky Scottish.

Looks like SMG have no intentions of handing themselves over to ITV plc just yet then. Good for them.

They never gave Sky Scottish enough time IMO, as it could have turned out to be a half decent channel with a respectable audience. On Sky Analogue it was hidden between 6.00pm and 8.00pm on the same channel as Granada Talk TV and Sky Box Office 3, eventually SBO3 got that channel once GTTV closed down. They should have had the channel on the air until 10.00pm or something, or at least waited until Sky Digital launched, as it closed about 4 months or so before SD started.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of channels that SMG want to launch. At least ITV are more specific, ie they give out the channel's name and what they intend to broadcast on it.

I don't think management at SMG will get the chance to plan their next Christmas party never mind any new channels to be honest .

With the impending purchase of Virgin, ITVplc with cash to spend - its only a matter of time until Scottish and Grampian is owned fully by the same company that has a digital strategy already. (After all, they are the second biggest shareholder).