Channel 5 Digital Capacity May Run Sky Sports

Channel 5 has held discussions with the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to draw up a set of criteria that will be used to rent out its spare digital terrestrial frequency (see Channel 5 To Offer Surplus Digital Frequencies). It is understood that BSkyB would not be prevented from using this capacity as was mooted earlier in the year (see Channel 5 Receives Proposals For Spare Digital Capacity).

Channel 5 has received a number of proposals from groups wishing to make use of the surplus digital capacity. Flextech, British Digital Broadcasting (BDB), S4C Digital Networks and QVC, the home shopping channel, are all believed to be interested.

However, the ITC may prefer Sky Sports 2 to appear on digital terrestrial television (DTT) in order to increase the medium’s appeal and take-up rate. A spokesperson for the ITC would only confirm that carriage agreements had been drawn up with Channel 5, but maintained that they did not relate to any one group or channel.

Any broadcaster which does use the frequency will have to pay C5 an annual fee, believed to be around £7 million. Channel 5 will be responsible for the content and quality of any service which is broadcast from its frequencies.

A C5 spokesperson said that, whilst talks are underway, an announcement is not expected for over a month.

Independent Television Commission: 0171 255 3000 Channel 5: 0171 550 5625