Guardian : Sky's new £1 channel

Icehouse

Broadcast
Sky's new £1 channel

John Cassy
Wednesday August 28, 2002
The Guardian

BSkyB is planning a shake-up to its pay-TV channels package which could raise prices for its 6m subscribers.

The satellite broadcaster is understood to be working on a new general entertainment channel to be included in the basic package alongside Sky One from January. The channel - possibly called Sky One Extra - is likely to be accompanied by a £1 a month per household price rise.

Sky packages range from £10 to £37 per month. The estimated £75m a year extra revenue would translate almost entirely into profit since Sky would mostly use existing infrastructure and programme rights.

Sky executives are also working on a general entertainment channel for the new free BBC-led digital terrestrial service to replace ITV Digital. Sky has so far offered Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Travel - but analysts expect Sky Travel to be replaced by an entertainment channel in the medium term, assuming the Independent Television Commission approves.

shinobi

Seems like de Ja Vous......Didn't the try this before a couple of years ago when the launched SKY2. I think SKY2 was for the series programmes while SKY1 was general entertainment. It didn't last too long though.

dmeehan

look what I found...

Mossy Monk

Sky 2 was a flop. they try it again only this time increasing the subscription :mad:

the increase is probably for the DTT channel which we wont be able to receive

The Gopher

Its a bad idea.Sky 1 hasnt enough decent programmes as it is without creating another channel.The Simpsons,Family Guy are nearly the only decent things on it at the mo.Sky1 has almost got as bad as ITV.

Genghis

The only possible consolation for Irish viewers might be that having recently raised subs in Ireland, the £1 increase may not be levied here. AFAIK UK subs have not been adjusted in some time, on the other hand - and by launching the channel later this year, Sky can justify an 'annual' New Year increase in January.

I wonder ill it be anything 'extra' at all though - from reading the article The estimated £75m a year extra revenue would translate almost entirely into profit since Sky would mostly use existing infrastructure and programme rights, it sounds awfully like an exercise in time-shifting and repeat programming to me.

dmeehan

yeah, sounds like sky one +1 to me