Ever since Freeview launched there have been rumours that Sky would laugh a competing service but with the BBC and Ofcom recently talking about a freesat service to fill in the gaps unfilled by digital terrestrial television, it seems Sky have jumped in there first.
The £150 package will include a minidish, set top box, viewing card and installation - it's the viewing card that's especially important. Sky currently do a free-to-air install for £120 but you can't get the card which means you can't get ITV1, Channel 4 or 5.
It's an important package for Sky. By launching it, Sky effectively scuppers any attempt to launch Freesat. Freesat would likely to have used non-Sky equipment meaning that users wouldn't have been able to upgrade to subscription services - something Sky would bound to have been concerned about.
And it's unlikely to kill off Freeview. Yes there may be 115 TV channels compared to Freeview's 26, although when you consider that many of these channels are shopping channels, the lineup doesn't look that attractive. And Freeview will still be around a third cheaper so where the signal is good enough, Freeview will no doubt still be the option for many.
However it does add an important step in the analogue switch off process by ensuring that every home in the UK will be able to get digital TV somehow or other.
Just as long as Sky don't can the offer after a few months...
