16 September 2008
Satellite television broadcaster Sky has blamed industry regulator Ofcom for the delayed launch of its new terrestrial pay TV service. Sky said it wanted to launch Picnic - which would offer a mix of basic and premium content and would be available at an extra cost to Freeview customers - in February last year. But the plans are still awaiting approval and Sky has now decided to suspend its preparations to launch the new service, claiming Ofcom is taking too long. "The blunt truth is that Ofcom has spent 18 months looking at our proposals and there is no end in sight," said the company. "There's nothing left to be achieved until Ofcom makes its mind up." It insisted the Picnic service would have been both positive for digital TV viewers and a good opportunity for Sky. Meanwhile, a recent report from Ofcom examining take-up of digital technology among ethnic minorities found that Pakistani adults are more likely to have digital TV in their homes than any other ethnic group in the UK.