GSB Struggles With Operators

Granada Sky Broadcasting launches today though cable operators appear far from impressed with the seven new channels being offered.

As reported on *Granada Unveils New Channel Details the new channels are: Granada Plus, featuring shows from the Granada and LWT libraries; Men and Motors, focusing on topics such as motoring and men’s fashion; Talk TV, interactive debates and chat shows; TV High Street, a consumer channel; Food and Wine; Health and Beauty; and Home and Garden.

The big cable operators however had a mixed reaction to the new offerings. Videotron, the seventh largest UK cable operator with franchises covering 1.4 million homes mainly in the South and South-East, said that it would only be carrying Talk TV, Granada Plus and Men and Motors because it already had “a good range of channels” and Bell Cablemedia, with 1.6 million homes passed, would only be broadcasting Granada Plus and Men and Motors.

TeleWest, the UK’s largest cable operator covering 4.3 million homes, is not carrying any of the channels so far and is canvassing its subscribers to assess demand for GSB. It hopes to make a decision by the end of the month.

Among the operators contacted by MediaTel only General Cable, with franchises in the Midlands and the South, is taking all of the channels. Figures for the actual take-up of the channels by subscribers should be available soon.

* MediaTel subscribers only

Granada Sky Broadcasting: 0171 578 4011

Videotron: 01703 315000

Bell Cablemedia: 0171 363 2000

TeleWest: 01483 750900

General Cable: 0171 393 2828