BBC and BSkyB settle satellite distribution row

BSkyB and the BBC have announced a five-year agreement that includes the continued allocation to BBC One and BBC Two of channel numbers 101 and 102 on BSkyB's Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).
Following the joint announcement of the agreement the BBC confirmed that a complaint filed with the Independent Television Commission in April has been withdrawn.
The agreement reached will see all eight previously encrypted television channels from the BBC broadcast in the clear from July 10. Furthermore by Autumn 2003, all 22 national and regional variations of BBC One and BBC Two will be available and listed on the EPG.
As part of the agreement, the BBC is buying a regionalisation service from BSkyB to ensure that viewers within the UK with Sky viewing cards will continue to automatically receive the correct national and regional versions of BBC One and BBC Two at 101 and 102 respectively.
The BBC said that the agreement reached will result in an end to payment by the BBC to BSkyB for the provision of ‘Solus’ viewing cards to digital satellite viewers who do not have a subscription to a pay-TV service. In future, viewers will continue to be able to view all unencrypted channels and will receive versions of BBC One London and BBC Two England in the 101 and 102 positions.
They will also be able to manually select the rest of the BBC's national and regional variations listed on the EPG.
(SP)