Divicom customer goes live, on November 15th........................
inside-cable.co.uk
29th September 1998
UK DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TO LAUNCH IN NOVEMBER
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ONdigital has unveiled its launch date, pricing and channel line-up. The 30 channel launch on November 15 will come six weeks after Sky Digital's launch of 140 channels by satellite on October 1. The first digital cable systems will start installation during 1999.
ONdigital will offer free aerial installation if that is needed by those who buy the heavily subsidised 199 pound settop box – but only to those signing up for pay-TV subscriptions. Anyone buying a box for access to the free-to-air services only will pay the full price. About 70% of the UK will have access to digital terrestrial from the launch.
The basic subscription of 7.99 a month compares with Sky Digital's 6.99.
In addition to digital versions of the analogue free-to-air channels, ONdigital will carry BBC News 24 and BBC Choice plus the Carlton Select and Food channels, Granada Plus, Granada Men & Motors, Granada Breeze and Shop! all free of charge.
The basic subscription also offers a "mix'n'match" selection of six channels from a line-up that includes Sky One, UK Gold, UK Style, UK Horizons, Eurosport, The Cartoon Network, Carlton Kids and Carlton Cinema.
Sky premium channels available are Sky Sports One and Three, and the Sky movie channels Sky Premier and Moviemax. ONdigital is charging 11 pounds per month for one premium channel, 15 pounds for two, or 18 pounds for three.
Other premium channels are Film Four (from Channel 4) and Manchester United TV. A pay-per-view service is also planned with the second generation settop box, due out in 1999. This will be able to take a telephone connection allowing interactive response. It will also offer Internet on the TV, but only over the telephone line.
Both BSkyB and ONdigital will release "sidecars" for their settop boxes allowing subscribers to take both services if they so wish.
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