Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenb
Freeview and Freesat both pay to carry UKTV channels, UKTV buy from the BBC commercial arm.
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Err, no, other way around. If you want to launch a free to air channel on DTT, you have to pay for carriage on one of the commercial muxes, the basic EPG entry comes as part of the package, with extra charge if you want to be on the interactive Freeview guide. If you want to go Free to Air on satellite, you’ve got to pay for the uplink, transponder space, and then pay separately to go on the Sky EPG and the Freesat EPG. A lot of cost, that can only be recouped by selling advertising.
On cable, it varies, with some channels paying for the privilege (e.g. shopping channels), some getting a free ride, and others getting paid for carriage. UKTV was a bundled package, Virgin pay UKTV for a bundle of free and subscription channels. Virgin are right to say that the bundle is not as valuable as it once was, since the content of the subscription channels is no longer premium. UKTV are right to hold out for as much as they can, but both sides will need to compromised eventually.