A joint free-to-view satellite TV venture between the BBC and ITV has been given the approval of the BBC Trust.
The service, which could be launched as early as spring next year, is known at the moment as Freesat and it will provide up to 200 channels in both standard and high definition formats.
Though the two companies are traditionally seen as rivals, having battled each other for terrestrial viewers for several decades now, the joint venture aims to help consumers get the best from the digital switchover, which is due to begin next year.
BBC director general, Mark Thompson, said: "The BBC's objective in launching Freesat is to support Digital Switchover by providing another way for licence payers to receive digital television channels and radio services, subscription free from the BBC and ITV.
"Its primary purpose is to drive digital take-up in analogue homes, particularly in those areas which are out of digital terrestrial coverage," said Thompson.
ITV executive chairman, Michael Grade, recently expressed concerns that high definition content would not be available to all when the digital switchover happened.
"Freesat will build on the success of Freeview by offering viewers a simple and cost effective way of upgrading to digital TV. By filling in the current gaps in Freeview coverage, Freesat will ensure that a free-to-air, no strings attached option for accessing digital TV is available to the whole of the UK ahead of digital switchover," said Grade.
"By offering HD capability we will future proof Freesat if, as expected, high definition television continues to capture the imagination of UK viewers."
The BBC Trust is the body that examines the policy of the BBC to make sure it is in line with its role as a public services broadcaster. However, gaining the Trust's approval doesn't necessarily mean that the project will go ahead.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/ 
Topic: BBC and ITV plan joint service (Read 1004 times)