Sky’s Digital Service Will Go Without ITV Channels

Executives at ITV have said that they will not allow BSkyB to carry ITV’s channels on the digital satellite service scheduled to be launched by Sky in June.

This represents a significant blow to the value of Sky’s digital service as users of it will have to switch out of the digital receiver equipment back to analogue if they wish to receive ITV. By extension, ITV’s planned digital service, ITV2, will not be available to Sky subscribers.

ITV claims that this is not a new development and that it had never intended to broadcast via satellite. A spokesperson for ITV said that it was entirely a terrestrial platform. The BBC, on the other hand, which is a platform-neutral broadcaster, is to pay Sky for the privilege of inclusion on the digital satellite service.

ITV Network Centre: 0171 843 8000