Freesat 'delayed to autumn 2007'

DMC

The BBC and ITV's own brand version of satellite is on the long finger, again.
Prehaps they are waiting for Channel 4.

Freesat 'delayed to autumn 2007'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5172378.stm

The BBC and ITV's planned free-to-view satellite TV service Freesat will not now be launched before autumn 2007.

"It's the issue of garnering broad support that's caused the delay," BBC director general Mark Thompson told MPs on the Culture Select Committee.

Negotiations with other broadcasters had been protracted due to efforts to fix a common standard, he continued.

Freesat will let people access all BBC and ITV channels via a satellite dish without paying a subscription.

BBC chairman Michael Grade said the service - which will cater for the quarter of TV viewers who live outside the Freeview coverage area - would be "ready as soon as possible".

Currently people who cannot recieve Freeview or cable TV can only access BBC and ITV digital services via a satellite dish provided by Sky.

watty

Also I'd guess the standard box will now be HD (and maybe PVR?). BBC HD trial ends next April, so Autumn 2007 sounds right.

Currently people who cannot recieve Freeview or cable TV can only access BBC and ITV digital services via a satellite dish provided by Sky.

Absolute nonsense. I wonder what politics lies behind that comment though?

Negotiations with other broadcasters had been protracted due to efforts to fix a common standard, he continued

That is interesting. Arguments between BBC /ITV on merits of OpenTv, MHEG, MHP etc etc for text, programguide and interactive? So it isn't just a FTA box made by Philips with "FreeSat" BBC/ITV sticker on it?

Mossy Monk

watty wrote:

Also I'd guess the standard box will now be HD (and maybe PVR?). BBC HD trial ends next April, so Autumn 2007 sounds right.

ITV are also trialling HD on cable in the UK so wouldnt be surprised to see that appearing on satellite before long