BBC set to launch iTV service

By Susan Rush
From The October 3, 2002 Edition Of CED Broadband Direct

On October 30 the United Kingdom will get another choice in digital television thanks to a partnership between the BBC, Crown Castle International and BSkyB.

The free-to-view digital service, dubbed Freeview, will offer viewers up to 30 digital television channels, interactivity and digital radio through a rooftop aerial via a digital terrestrial television. Consumers will pay a one-time fee of $155 for an adapter. The channel line-up includes entertainment, music, children's programs, documentaries and 24-hours news.

In April the U.K. suffered a setback in its quest to become the first all digital television country when iTV Digital went belly up. iTV Digital failed to attract enough subscribers even though the company gave away set-tops. Its failure to renegotiate a contract with the English Football League proved to be the final nail in iTV Digital's coffin.

"Freeview offers something new to viewers who want more quality TV channels but haven't yet been attracted by pay digital television," said Berwyn Roberts, Crown Castle's sales and business development director.

The UK Independent Television Commission awarded BBC and Crown Castle the digital terrestrial television (DTT) licenses previously held by ITV Digital.