Sky channels disappearing from "free"view

[pschweig]

Looks like Sky Three, Sky News and Sky Sports News will be dropped from the freeview line up

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6343715.stm

They make way for some top up tv style sky content - including premiership football. Would be nice if there was some way to get that into sage but I guess it would require a physical card.

Also the channels will use mpeg4 - not sure if that would cause a problem for sage.

[rickgillyon]

Freeview was the only way I could get Sky3, as it's not on Telewest. I've never actually watched anything on it though, so I guess it's not too serious a loss... :)

A pain to lose the other two, means they won't be available on all tuners.

[motobarsteward]

I'd heard that Sky were going into 'competition' with FreeView in that they were going to transmit their channels in MP4 format. You would then have to buy another set-top box from Sky to get their channels.

EDIT... I've just read the article in your post... So I guess that's where I heard it!

[motobarsteward]

Just read the open letter by Richard Branson of Virgin Media. It looks like Sky will be dropped from the Virgin (NTL/Telewest) cable lineup because a certain Auzzie wants to launch a service that competes with terestrial digital in the UK. I guess he'll be allowed to get away with it as well, seeing as he's a great freind of our gloriuos leader Tony Blair.

[rickgillyon]

Not a biggie I suppose. Only watch two shows currently on Sky1, Rescue Me and Battlestar Galactica. Both can be downloaded well ahead of their scheduling here.

I'm sure Virgin will cut the prices with the money they'll save from the Sky deal. :rolleyes: