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BBC will soon be moving to Astra 2D, read here:
The BBC is to 'go it alone' on digital satellite. From 30 May it will broadcast its eight TV channels unencrypted, thus by-passing the BSkyB conditional access system.
The unexpected announcement (12 March) means that digital satellite viewers in the UK will, in the future, be able to receive the BBC channels without a Sky viewing card, and through any make of digital satellite receiver. Current and future Sky subscribers will still be able to receive all the BBC's services. The BBC is not renewing its carriage agreement with BSkyB, said to be worth £85 million over 5 years. In future, all eight channels will be broadcast on Astra 2D, without encryption. 2D has a much tighter footprint, avoiding the issues of 'overspill' into Europe which concerned English-language rights owners.
The BBC says that the decision was triggered by two events. Firstly, the BBC's five year contract with BSkyB for conditional access ends in May, so alternative options can be considered.
Secondly, by moving all the BBC's services to the Astra 2D satellite, whose signals are tightly focused, the BBC can limit broadcasting principally to the UK. This removes the need to encrypt for rights purposes.
However, to ensure that satellite viewers continue to receive the right regional version when they watch BBC ONE or BBC TWO, the BBC will need a one-off change from Sky, for which it has offered to pay a fair price, including a profit margin. This involves a simple adaptation to the EPG software which allows the viewer to select the regional service they want so they always get 'their' BBC ONE or BBC TWO.
However, if this is not achieved, the BBC says that it will still go ahead with broadcasting its services unencrypted on DSAT.
BBC Director-General Greg Dyke said: "This is an important decision for the BBC which will save us a considerable amount of money. It will also bring new benefits to viewers right across the country, will broaden the appeal of digital satellite and enable as many people as possible to get the BBC's digital channels.
"For the first time ever, all the BBC's regional and national services will be available to viewers right across the UK. This means that a Scot living in London can get BBC ONE Scotland, or a native of Yorkshire, living in Cornwall could watch regional programmes from their home region."
Both the BBC and Sky were quick to deny reports of a feud or that Sky executives were 'furious' about the news. "This is not a campaign against Sky - far from it, said Greg Dyke . "I don't blame Sky for any of this, it's their job to make as much money as possible and it's our job to make sure that our programmes reach as many of the people who pay for them as possible."
A Sky spokesman, who described relations between the organisations as 'cordial' added "Digital satellite is an open platform so channels can choose whether to broadcast unencrypted or take up Sky's offer of conditional access services on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The BBC's proposals mean that all digital satellite viewers would continue to receive its channels and Sky looks forward to negotiating charges with the BBC for the technical services it is requesting."
One consequence of the news is that it will open up a genuine Free-to-Air market on digital satellite, creating a new market for 'non-Sky' set-top boxes.
The BBC is to 'go it alone' on digital satellite. From 30 May it will broadcast its eight TV channels unencrypted, thus by-passing the BSkyB conditional access system.
The unexpected announcement (12 March) means that digital satellite viewers in the UK will, in the future, be able to receive the BBC channels without a Sky viewing card, and through any make of digital satellite receiver. Current and future Sky subscribers will still be able to receive all the BBC's services. The BBC is not renewing its carriage agreement with BSkyB, said to be worth £85 million over 5 years. In future, all eight channels will be broadcast on Astra 2D, without encryption. 2D has a much tighter footprint, avoiding the issues of 'overspill' into Europe which concerned English-language rights owners.
The BBC says that the decision was triggered by two events. Firstly, the BBC's five year contract with BSkyB for conditional access ends in May, so alternative options can be considered.
Secondly, by moving all the BBC's services to the Astra 2D satellite, whose signals are tightly focused, the BBC can limit broadcasting principally to the UK. This removes the need to encrypt for rights purposes.
However, to ensure that satellite viewers continue to receive the right regional version when they watch BBC ONE or BBC TWO, the BBC will need a one-off change from Sky, for which it has offered to pay a fair price, including a profit margin. This involves a simple adaptation to the EPG software which allows the viewer to select the regional service they want so they always get 'their' BBC ONE or BBC TWO.
However, if this is not achieved, the BBC says that it will still go ahead with broadcasting its services unencrypted on DSAT.
BBC Director-General Greg Dyke said: "This is an important decision for the BBC which will save us a considerable amount of money. It will also bring new benefits to viewers right across the country, will broaden the appeal of digital satellite and enable as many people as possible to get the BBC's digital channels.
"For the first time ever, all the BBC's regional and national services will be available to viewers right across the UK. This means that a Scot living in London can get BBC ONE Scotland, or a native of Yorkshire, living in Cornwall could watch regional programmes from their home region."
Both the BBC and Sky were quick to deny reports of a feud or that Sky executives were 'furious' about the news. "This is not a campaign against Sky - far from it, said Greg Dyke . "I don't blame Sky for any of this, it's their job to make as much money as possible and it's our job to make sure that our programmes reach as many of the people who pay for them as possible."
A Sky spokesman, who described relations between the organisations as 'cordial' added "Digital satellite is an open platform so channels can choose whether to broadcast unencrypted or take up Sky's offer of conditional access services on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The BBC's proposals mean that all digital satellite viewers would continue to receive its channels and Sky looks forward to negotiating charges with the BBC for the technical services it is requesting."
One consequence of the news is that it will open up a genuine Free-to-Air market on digital satellite, creating a new market for 'non-Sky' set-top boxes.
