Ofcom Gives Thumbs Up For Pay-TV Through Freeview

Media regulator Ofcom has paved the way for Freeview to carry subscription-only services, giving the green light to proposals for paid-for services on the hugely popular platform.

The industry watchdog said that there was no longer a “compelling reason” to bar subscription services from broadcasting on the service, which was previously restricted to carrying free-to-air broadcasts in an attempt to foster growth and viewer take-up.

The move will put pressure on DTT operator Top-Up TV, which allows Freeview customers to subscribe to premium channels on a monthly basis, charging £7.99 per month for 11 channels, which broadcast in special time-bands through privately purchased spectrum (see Top Up TV Boosts Appeal With Extended Viewing Hours).

Freeview is jointly owned by ITV, Channel 4, the BBC, British Sky Broadcasting and Crown Castle, which is now part of National Grid.

Elsewhere, Five recently joined forces with Top-Up TV in an effort to gain extra airspace for the launch of its forthcoming digital offerings (see Five Joins Forces With Top Up TV).

Freeview’s latest estimates show 10 million boxes have now been sold, while Ofcom state that 6.5 million use the service as their only source of digital TV (see Ofcom Estimates Show 65.9% Of Britain With Digital TV).

Freeview: 08708 80 99 80 www.freeview.co.uk