BSKYB SWITCH OFF DTH ANALOGUE SERVICE

BRITISH Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) have announced the cessation of their analogue Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite subscription service after 12 years.
The final three Sky channels carried on the analogue service, Sky Premier, Sky One and Sky Sports 2, were switched off at midnight on September 27. The leases on the associated transponders have been terminated.
This marks the final step in BSkyB’s transition to a digital service, which began with the launch of Sky digital in October 1998. BSkyB initially planned for analogue switch-off by December 31 2002. Switch-over has, instead, been achieved 15 months early.
At June 30 2001, there were 5.3 million subscribers to Sky digital and 145,000 remaining subscribers to the analogue service. Sky digital therefore remains one of the leading digital television and interactive service in the UK, far exceeding the combined total of digital cable and digital terrestrial homes.
Tony Ball, Chief Executive of BSkyB, said: “Sky are now operating a fully digital system and continues to offer the best value and the widest choice in digital television.”
BSkyB will announce their results for the 3 months to September 30 2001 on November 2 2001. (CD)