Church Sells BSkyB Shares In Playboy Protest

The Church Commissioners are to sell £2 million worth of shares in BSkyB because of the launch of Playboy TV, the new channel in which BSkyB has a stake together with Flextech and Playboy.

The Church Commission has said it does not wish to benefit from that type of broadcasting. A spokesperson for BSkyB said, “Our position is clear. It is regrettable that any shareholder would take this action but it is their prerogative. We restate that the channel is completely legal and has been cleared for broadcasting by the appropriate authorities.”

Playboy TV, which launched at midnight on November 1 broadcasts for four hours each night; the signal is encrypted and subscribers have to pay an additional £5.99 per month to take the channel; it is not part of the multi-channels package.