Sky+ Subscription Charge To End

BSkyB is to get rid of its monthly Sky+ subscription charge in an attempt to increase take-up and loyalty amongst its digital customers.

The decision comes ahead of the launch of Freeview Playback (see Freeview Overtakes Sky), a new rival in the hard-drive recorder market.

Sky has already dropped the £10-a-month subscription fee for customers signing up for its premium sport or movie channels and from July 1 none of its 8.49 million customers will have to pay the subscription.

Sky recently announced that Sky+ households have reached 2.1 million following growth of 199,000 in the third quarter (see Sky+ Subscriptions Increase).

FreeSat, the free-to-air satellite platform from the BBC and ITV, is set to launch next Spring and Sky’s move could be seen as an attempt to negate any threat made by its entry onto the market (see Freesat Gets BBC Trust Approval).

Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com