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More Channels Leave Sky Analogue

More Channels Leave Sky Analogue

A further batch of Sky analogue channels will be switched off this weekend as the broadcaster moves closer to its September deadline of total analogue switch-off. The latest batch of channels to become available to Sky customers only on the digital spectrum will be Sky News, Sky Moviemax, Sky Sports 1 and 3, the Disney Channel and shopping channel QVC.

There has been reported concern from consumer groups at the prospect of the remaining analogue customers being plunged into a “TV blackout”, but Sky maintains that the large majority of its customers have responded to its offer to convert to digital.

The last set of figures released showed that by 31 March this year, only 242,000 analogue customers remained, which meant 94% of Sky’s customers received its digital service. A spokesman for Sky said today that the next set of figures, to be released shortly, are expected to show a further move towards digital. The Disney Channel says that 99% of its viewers are digital customers. These kind of figures make maintaining analogue services financially unattractive.

Doubt continues to surround the Government’s aims to switch off the terrestrial analogue signal by the end of the decade (see ONdigital Chief Calls For Joint Effort In Digital TV Promotion), but Sky’s September switch-off deadline, set last year (see BSkyB Seeks Early Analogue Switch-Off) comes a year and a half earlier than originally planned, evidence that Sky, at least, has had some success in marketing the digital revolution.

BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com

Subscribers can access digital viewing figures in the Television database by selecting “Television” from the drop-down box at the top of this page.

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