Sky to reject launch of new channels

BSkyB has stopped taking new channel launch applications for its satellite platform due to lack of space.

Many channels hoping to launch on Sky Digital will be affected by the news, however according to Broadcastnow.co.uk, the company is guaranteeing EPG spaces to a select number of channels in the current waiting list.

A letter sent out to broadcasters this week warned of the risk of “malfunction” if the “amount of data needed to display services in the EPG approaches or exceeds the amount of memory available”.

The letter said: “The context for these changes is the rapid growth in the number of services listed in the Sky EPG. As you will be aware, there are already over 600 television and radio services listed in the Sky EPG, compared with fewer than 200 at launch of the platform.”