New FreeSat Service Delayed By More Than A Year

Sky’s free satellite service will retain its market monopoly, as the launch of the BBC and ITV-backed FreeSat service could be delayed until late next year.

BBC director general Mark Thompson has told the cross-party media select committee that no common standard for the service has been agreed upon.

“It’s the issue of garnering broad support that’s caused the delay, it is not that we’re not keen to go on with it,” he said. Chairman Michael Grade added that complaints from those unable to receive Freeview were embarrassing for the BBC.

Freeview could be set to overtake satellite by the end of the year, if it continues its current rate of growth (see Freeview Could Overtake Satellite By End Of Year). The service currently reaches 27.3% of all households, with satellite reaching 31.5%.

However not all of the country can receive Freeview because not all transmitters have been upgraded. The new FreeSat service will aim to be accessible to the whole country.

When the new BBC and ITV-backed service is eventually introduced, it is set to be a lot cheaper than Sky’s FreeSat service, which costs a one-off payment of £150.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com