BSkyB and NTL reach long-term agreement on channels

BSkyB and NTL have announced that they had concluded an agreement for the supply of nine BSkyB channels to NTL.
Under the terms of the deal, which will run until the end of 2006, Sky One and Sky News will continue to be carried on NTL's analogue and digital TV services, whilst Sky Sports News will continue to be shown on NTL's digital cable TV network.
By the end of July 2003, NTL's digital cable TV service will also air, for the first time, a further six Sky channels, Sky One Mix, Sky Travel, Sky Travel Extra, and the recently launched channels from Sky Music, The Amp, Flaunt and Scuzz.
Aizad Hussain, Managing Director of NTL Home said: "We are delighted to have secured this long term agreement, adding further momentum to our programme of product enhancement. This is more good news for NTL customers”.
According to Martin Goswami, Commercial Director, BSkyB: "This agreement is a further step towards broadening the distribution and reach of Sky channels.
“We are delighted to secure carriage of those channels throughout the whole of NTL's UK networks and we look forward to bringing six new channels to NTL customers for the first time”.
The new deal highlights also BSkyB’s growing commitment to increasing its revenue streams by widening the number of its channels shown on rival platforms, rather than keeping its own channels and services for Sky digital customers.
In addition the move comes at a time when BSkyB’s subscriber growth is slowing down, despite its dominant position in the market.
(MM)