BSkyB may move on Channel 6 offering

Saturday, 20 September 2003 5:47 AM

BSkyB is eyeing up the launch of a sixth major channel to rival ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Dubbed initially Channel 6, a name thought unlikely to stand the test of marketing consultants, the digital terrestrial service would be available to an anticipated 12 million homes with access to Freeview and would mirror the success of Sky One.

The channel would concentrate on lifestyle and entertainment programming and would boast a budget of around 200 million pounds.

BSkyB executives said the channel would make commercial sense if the Government achieved its target of switching off the analogue TV signal by 2010.

Its is thought BSKyB will transform its Sky Travel channel to accommodate for the new upstart.

BSkyB's chief operating officer Richard Freudenstein, speaking to the Royal Television Society's Cambridge convention, said: "I think if there was fast growth of Freeview, Sky Travel would evolve.

"It absolutely makes sense. If there is that level of free-to-air viewing we could invest more in a channel."

The launch date may come about within three to five years, sources said.

Separately, Haim Saban, the Israeli-American media tycoon, yesterday said he would enter the race to bid for the takeover of ITV, if the Competition Commission grants a (favourable) go-ahead for the proposed 4 billion pounds merger of Carlton and Granada.

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