A new agreement between UKTV and satellite operator SES will ensure Sky and Freesat viewers in the UK and Ireland will continue to be able to access a number of channels until the end of the decade.
- The deal includes one transponder to house UKTV’s bouquet of channels, including Dave, Gold and W.
- SES will provide UKTV with new uplinking and ground services.
- The terms of the deal also allow UKTV to add new capacity to launch new channels in the future.
Viewers across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland will continue to enjoy their favourite TV programming as SES and UKTV agreed to extend their capacity agreement at SES’s key TV neighbourhood at 28.2 degrees East through the end of the decade, both companies announced today.
UKTV, a subsidiary of BBC Studios, currently offers free-to-air channels Dave, Drama, W and Yesterday on Freesat, plus pay TV channels Alibi, Eden and Gold on Sky.
In addition to the renewed transponder for UKTV’s bouquet of channels, the agreement will see SES provide new uplinking and ground services and give UKTV the flexibility to add additional capacity to expand to more channels in the future.
Corporate Comment
Andrew Kemp, Head of Operations at UKTV noted:
“We have relied on SES for distribution of our video content for many years and we are pleased to extend our agreement with additional services. As we continue to strengthen and invest in our linear business, it is key for us to ensure we have a reliable, high-quality satellite distribution across the UK and Ireland.”
Norbert Hölzle, Global Head of Media at SES added:
“From comedy and entertainment to drama and history, UKTV continues to be a driving force for developing creative and compelling TV content that is innovatively packaged in their iconic channels. This multi-year extension with added services underscores the continued importance of our 28.2 degrees East orbital position, and the on-going strategic value satellite brings to broadcasters as they look to distribute their high-quality content to the broadest audience possible.”
Sky itself has ongoing carriage deals with SES until 2028. The company is trying to encourage viewers to migrate from satellite to its newer online-based platform, accessed via Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
Marc Thornham