The BBC is to ask the Independent Television Commission to force BSkyB to guarantee it the top two slots on its electronic programming guide, following the breakdown of talks between the two broadcasters (see BBC And BSkyB Set To Take Digital Disagreement To ITC).
The BBC’s decision not to renew its digital encryption deal with BSkyB sparked a row between the two broadcasting heavyweights (see
BBC Ends £85m Conditional Access Contract With BSkyB), with the latter threatening to remove the BBC from its current 101 and 102 position on the EPG.
The Corporation claims that BSkyB is holding up talks to ensure that viewers automatically receive the correct regional variations of BBC1 and BBC2 on prominent EPG positions. It said that BSkyB had not given it a “satisfactory response” to its request for a solution to the disagreement and confirmed its intention to appeal to the broadcasting regulator.
Under ITC regulations, public service broadcasters are guaranteed a position of due prominence on the EPG, but this does not appear to mean the top two slots and does not extend to regional services.
It is understood that satellite broadcaster is threatening to move BBC1 and BBC2 to positions 52 and 53 on the EPG, in a move which could damage the BBC’s viewing figures in BSkyB homes. The BBC is keen to maintain its current position at the top of the on-screen guide, but the Corporation recently conceded that BSkyB could legally consign the regional variations of its main channels to obscure parts of its EPG (see City News).
From 30 May the BBC will broadcast its eight TV channels unencrypted on digital satellite, in a move that will save the Corporation around £85 million in fees over five years (see INSIGHTanalysis: BBC’s Exit From Carriage Deal Will Not Hurt Sky).
