Sky and Freesat viewers look set to lose access to Russia’s news channel RT due to EU sanctions. Both TV providers rely on Luxembourg-based SES to deliver their channels to viewers in the British Isles.
EU-based satellite operators won’t be permitted to continue carrying RT. This includes France-based Eutelsat and Luxembourg’s SES. SES is the operator of Astra 2E, 2F and 2G – the three satellites used for British and Irish TV and radio services.
Both Sky and Freesat currently take RT HD from Astra 2G, 11226 V.
Once action is taken, RT will go blank. At this point, internal processes at Sky and Freesat for dealing with channels that have fallen off-air will apply. Sky, for instance, is proactive in removing channels that have fallen off-air, pulling their channel number within hours.
The move however highlights how the EU now has ultimate control over which channels are available via satellite. Since Brexit, the UK can no longer directly influence decisions.
RXTV identified this route to pulling RT off-air as a possibility in our report on Monday.
RT is currently broadcasting its English language service in Europe based on its Ofcom licence: it currently holds two licences for satellite distribution. One covers its UK service and one for RT Europe. Despite Brexit, an Ofcom licence is still valid in countries that are signatories of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (ECTT).
Ofcom is still investigating 15 breaches of its broadcast code. If Ofcom decides to revoke the licence, it is likely to come too late – the service will already be gone. Should Ofcom decide against, it will be powerless to get the EU to reinstate services for Sky and Freesat users.
Freeview
This may not affect distribution on Freeview, depending on how the RT feed reaches multiplex operator Arqiva, who currently carry both the HD and SD versions of the channel on the digital terrestrial television platform. Should RT provide Arqiva with a feed that isn’t a relay from one of the affected satellites, then the EU’s actions will not impact Freeview. In this case, Arqiva or any third-party involved in RT’s distribution could pull the plug, ending any contract with the broadcaster. Or they could wait for Ofcom’s verdict.
Aidan Smith, editor, RXTV