ITV and BBC to launch 'freesat' Sky Rival

ITV and the BBC have announced plans to launch a free-to-air satellite tv service to rival Sky.

What this means, in reality, is that ITV will join the BBC in switching off the Sky encryption and broadcasting its channels 'in the clear'. So far, this doesn't really change too much. You can already get BBC and ITV channels free over satellite through Sky's freesat from Sky service.

The significant news, though, is that ITV and BBC are said to be developing their own EPG. This is a big deal, because Sky charge a ton to channels wanting to be included on their guide. Whilst it's possible to tune into the channels if they're not on the EPG, it requires a lot of fiddling. So, if ITV and Sky charge less, or nothing, to channels wanting to be included on their service (and it's not yet clear which, if any, channels would be), then those channels might want to opt out of Sky completely, depending on the relative [non-]subscriber base. ITV and the BBC are unlikely themselves to pull out of the Sky EPG (the BBC just paid to retain their number 1 and 2 slots), it could become an option for some of the smaller channels.

If this happens, then it might present an opportunity for community-based broadcasters, including radio broadcasters and, dare I say it, student radio stations, to get onto a satellite service at a much lower cost. And, in an increasingly digital broadcasting world, which currently presents few opportunities for community broadcasters, that can only be a good thing.