***BSkyB Considers 2000 Analog Blackout
(January 14)
According to Inside Digital TV BSkyB is considering switching off
its analog satellite signals as early as the fourth quarter of
this year. Chief executive Tony Ball has intimated such a move is
under consideration but that a number of other factors have to be
taken into account. Prime consideration will be the number of
homes left to upgrade to the Sky Digital service. In recent
months Sky analog homes have not only been upgrading to the
digital DTH service, but also switching to cable delivery. The
most recent subscriber figures, issued by Sky at its third
quarter results announcement in October, claim a total of
3,582,000 DTH subscribers of which 1,800,000 had signed for the
digital service. That leaves 1.782 million analogue subscribing
homes whom at October 12 had yet to convert to digital.
However, that number is likely to have been reduced over the
Christmas season, usually BSkyB's best selling-period. Industry
sources suggest that the digital total could have reached as high
as 2.3 million. Other broadcasters are also known to be
considering when to pull the plug on their analog signals.
Business network CNBC is currently planning to see out its ten-
year lease, which does not expire until 2005, though an earlier
review is a near certainty. Unlike other broadcasters on the
Astra satellite, CNBC also feeds a number of cable operators, as
well as DTH viewers.
There are thought to be up to 400,000 UK satellite homes that do
not subscribe to any of the Sky services. Their viewing is likely
to be to the remaining free-to-air services, including Sky News,
Eurosport, CNBC, QVC, Cartoon Network and the many German
language channels. Whether these homes can be persuaded to
upgrade at all is debatable.
Wave Issue 2003 1/19/00 Article 6-02