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BBC Takes on Murdoch in Satellite TV |
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LONDON, Mar. 1, 2007/Satnews Daily/ ― The BBC said it is forging ahead with plans to expand its free digital satellite TV offering, taking it onto a collision course with Rupert Murdoch's market leading pay TV service, BskyB. BBC said it will pull out the stops in marketing its "Freesat" service that allows consumers to watch DTH TV via satellite without a subscription. Accessing Freesat involves a one-off installation cost, after which dozens of free-to-air channels become available. BBC acting chairman Chitra Bharucha said the new, guaranteed subscription-free satellite service would provide the public another option when deciding which platform to choose. Freesat is a BBC-owned trademark for free-to-air digital satellite TV services in the UK. Its satellite component consists of the SES Astra/Eutelsat-owned Astra 2 and Eurobird satellites. "Freeview," the only other free DTH service in the UK, also uses both satellites. This BBC push leads it head on against pay TV service, BSkyB, which offers its own free satellite service. This service, however, is not heavily promoted. BSkyB has 8.4 million paying customers. The UK will shift to digital TV in 2012. Some 7 million homes in Britain do not have digital TV, however. The BBC hopes to market Freesat as a joint venture with other public-service broadcasters. ITV, BBC's partner in Freesat, said it would support the BBC.
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