Last week, the BBC shocked the industry with the news that it will not renew its current carriage deal with BSkyB when it expires in May, saving it £85m. This means that its digital channels will not be protected by Sky Digital's encryption technology and will be able to be picked up by any satellite dish.
Previously, the BBC used Sky's secure technology to ensure that programming meant exclusively for the UK market, such as sport, could not be seen abroad and that the rights-protected content was aired in the right regions.
The launch of a new satellite, called Astra 2D, transmits more accurately so its signal can not be picked up outside the UK, rendering the encryption technology unnecessary.
Channel 4 and ITV will not break their current contracts with Sky, but are also looking at broadcasting their channels on the same satellite, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Both broadcasters issued statements last week in support of the BBC's move. Channel 4 chief executive Mark Thompson said that, although the channel did not intend to follow suit, the move "if successfully implemented, will improve the chances of the UK's public service broadcasters, including Channel 4, continuing to reach viewers by digital satellite at a sensible cost."
ITV is said to be concerned that if, as planned, BSkyB introduces a new access card for its subscribers, lapsed customers will not be able to pick up free channels such as ITV2.
The broadcasters, along with the BBC, have long been lobbying the government to get BSkyB to reduce the amount it charges them for carriage on its network. However, their attempts have so far failed.
The telecoms watchdog Oftel also threw out a complaint from ITV that the £17m a year it was charged for carriage on Sky Digital is too high.
BSkyB argues that its charges are justified because it has invested £2bn in its digital network.
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