Discovery is ready to take Picnic slot

by Media Week, Media Week 27-Nov-07

Discovery is poised to become the second third-party brand to join the line-up on Picnic, Sky's pay-TV service on Freeview.

Sources close to the negotiations told Media Week that a Discovery
tie-up with Sky for the factual channel slot on Picnic is a "done
deal".

Last week, Sky announced that Disney Channel would take the kids'

channel slot on Picnic, for a service scheduled to air between 6am and

6pm daily.

As well as the pay-TV Freeview service, Picnic will also incorporate
broadband and fixed-line telephony services. Customers will require a
new set-top box to access the TV service, which will eventually use
Mpeg-4 high-compression technology.

The use of this new technology is subject to Ofcom's approval, but Sky
is believed to be in talks with Freeview box manufacturers. No pricing
structure has yet been announced for the service.

Ofcom approval for its Picnic plans is vital for Sky, as it looks to end
the monopoly enjoyed by Setanta in recent months on the provision of
premium sports content on Freeview.

Sky has 70 people working on its project.

Meanwhile, Top Up TV, which also provides pay-TV services via Freeview,
has launched new VoD services and linear channels.