Sky Introduces Personal Planner Feature To Digital Service

BSkyB has introduced a “personal planner” function for its digital satellite customers which will allow viewers to plan their viewing and then have the service either change channel for them automatically when their chosen programmes are about to start, or flash a reminder up on screen.

The new feature, which has just completed its distribution via free download to the set-top boxes of Sky’s 5.4m subscribers, could mean a further freeze-out for ITV in digital homes. ITV’s share of viewing in Sky digital homes already suffers (see Digital Television Round-Up – April 2001) because ITV has, despite promises (see ITV Available In Sky Digital Homes “Soon”) yet to arrange carriage on the platform. This means that viewers currently have to disconnect their digital signal and reconnect the analogue one if they want to watch ITV. Sky’s personal planner feature could be a further disincentive, as viewers would be encouraged to set up an entire evening’s automatic viewing which would not include ITV.

To accompany the new feature, Sky’s electronic programme guide (EPG) has been extended to include seven days of channel listings. This means that an entire week’s programming can be planned in advance. Sky CEO Richard Freudenstein, commented, “The digital age has meant an exponential increase in viewing choice and this new innovation makes it that much more simple to remember when particular programmes are on television.”

BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com

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