Sky Picnic
Encyclopedia
Sky Picnic is a proposed pay television service to launch from BSkyB
. It would sit alongside Freeview and Top Up TV
on the digital terrestrial television
(DTT) platform in the United Kingdom
.
. The consultation was published on 4 October 2007 with the outcome originally going to be announced in early 2008. Ofcom announced on 13 May 2008 that Sky's plans had been put on hold pending further scrutiny. Sky had placed the project on hold, whilst results from the consultation were awaited and it will now want to consider Ofcom's determination, challenge aspects it is unhappy with via usual or legal channels. On March 31, 2010, Ofcom published conclusions to its investigations.
It determined that:
The Ofcom document outlines the benefits of the above decisions in offering the potential to deliver to the consumer:
Choice, Innovation and Price and for the market a boost to competition, investment and innovation.
Sky will be required to make a “reference offer” – a template contract to other pay TV providers – within six weeks of May 31, 2010 according to the Ofcom document.
The consultation on Ofcom’s provisional decision to make a reference to the Competition Commission closes on 15 May and Ofcom expects to announce a final decision before summer 2010.
During August 2010, Sky Sports 1 and 2 was made available on terrestrial pay TV services BT Vision
and Top Up TV
. It is unknown if this would cancel plans for Sky Picnic altogether.
services as part of Freeview on the digital terrestrial platform. These channels are Sky News
, Pick TV and Challenge on Multiplex C (COM5 post switchover), as well an interactive service available on compatible set-top boxes known as Sky Text
. The submission stated that Sky planned to use the space they have on Multiplex C for a pay TV service offering at least five pay TV channels, which would be Sky Sports 1
, Sky Movies Showcase
, Sky1, the Disney Channel
and the Discovery Channel. It would also offer at least one free-to-air channel that would be available through both Sky Picnic and Freeview, Sky News, and a free-to-air interactive service, Sky Text. However, broadcasting hours for Sky News would be reduced to 18:00 - 19:00 if Sky is not able to use at least four streams for the service. The remaining free-to-air channels, Pick TV and Challenge, will most likely be removed from Freeview.
The first stream would broadcast Sky Sports 1.
The second stream would broadcast Sky Movies Showcase from 18:00 to around 03:00 in the morning. The Disney Channel Preview would then start from where Sky Movies Showcase finishes and end at 06:00, when the Disney Channel starts up.
The third stream would broadcast Discovery Channel from 06:00 to 18:00. Sky News would broadcast from 18:00 until 19:00, allowing Sky1 to take over until 06:00.
However, should the company later acquire permission to broadcast on more of Multiplex C, the fourth stream would be used to continue Sky News on a 24/7 basis, while Sky1 broadcast hours would be increased to start at 18:00.
Sky also plans to use a conditional access
system supplied by NDS Group
for the Picnic service. This will be a different conditional access technology to that used by Top Up TV which is already on the platform.
compression format which is currently used by its free-to-air services. They indicated to Ofcom in the consultation document that they would like to move over to the more efficient MPEG-4
format in the future, allowing for further broadcast capacity. It has been proposed that set-top box
es compatible with the Sky Picnic service must support MPEG-4 (which is not currently used on the platform) in addition to MPEG-2. This would allow Sky to implement MPEG-4 without customers needing to upgrade their set-top box. Ofcom is yet to decide on whether MPEG-4 can be used on the DTT platform, and as part of this and other consultation processes, it is determining whether this is a viable option in the future.
's consultation into the service. Sky announced that they have completed all preparations for the service, and there was now no further work to be carried out for the launch to take place. 28 jobs were affected. A spokesperson for BSkyB
commented: "We want to invest in Picnic because it will be good for consumers and a good opportunity for Sky but the blunt truth is that Ofcom has spent 18 months looking at our proposals and there is no end in sight." The lifting of the suspension and progression with the remaining stages towards launch are now with Sky to consider following Ofcom's determination on March 31, 2010.
es, branded as Picnic-ready, were made available in Currys
stores throughout the UK in late 2009. The boxes were manufactured by Sagem
and are standard definition versions of their ITD81 receivers with a NDS compatible card slot. They were sold cheaply by Currys as standard Freeview boxes at around £20. While they do carry the Picnic logo, any mention of the pay TV service on the packaging was covered by dark labeling. They had proven popular among enthusiasts in the Republic of Ireland
as their MPEG-4 capability allowed them to receive the RTÉ NL DTT service tests, now known as Saorview
. The Picnic STB can no longer receive RTÉ Two
as it is now transmitted in HD with no SD simulcast, because the Picnic STB is incapable of receiving DVB-T2 standard. However, the remaining channels can still be received, until they switch over to DVB-T2 standard as well.
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
. It would sit alongside Freeview and Top Up TV
Top Up TV
Top Up TV is a pay television service in the UK launched in March 2004, operating on the digital terrestrial platform. The aim of the service is to "Top Up" Freeview customers by providing additional channels and services....
on the digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom
Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom encompasses over 100 television, radio and interactive services broadcast via the UK's terrestrial television network and receivable with a standard television aerial...
(DTT) platform in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
The service was the subject of a public consultation by communications regulator OfcomOfcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
. The consultation was published on 4 October 2007 with the outcome originally going to be announced in early 2008. Ofcom announced on 13 May 2008 that Sky's plans had been put on hold pending further scrutiny. Sky had placed the project on hold, whilst results from the consultation were awaited and it will now want to consider Ofcom's determination, challenge aspects it is unhappy with via usual or legal channels. On March 31, 2010, Ofcom published conclusions to its investigations.
It determined that:
- Sky Sports available on all platforms: Sky must offer to supply Sky Sports 1 and 2 to other retailers – for example, cable, terrestrial and IPTV – at a wholesale price set by Ofcom.
- Sky pay services on terrestrial: Ofcom gives conditional approval to Sky and Arqiva’s request to offer pay TV services on digital terrestrial TV (known as “Picnic”).
- But dependent on a wholesale deal: Approval of Picnic is subject to Sky implementing a wholesale deal under the supply obligation for Sky Sports 1 and 2. In addition, if Sky decides to offer movie channels on digital terrestrial TV then those channels must also be offered to other digital terrestrial TV operators.
- Reference on movies: Ofcom is consulting on its proposed decision to make a reference to the Competition Commission asking the Commission to address concerns regarding the sale and distribution of subscription video-on-demand premium movie rights (but which cannot be addressed fully using Ofcom’s powers).
- Innovation on HD: Sky must offer to wholesale high-definition versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2. HD is a relatively new innovation. To help to promote future innovation Ofcom has not set wholesale prices for the HD channels but requires them to be offered on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
The Ofcom document outlines the benefits of the above decisions in offering the potential to deliver to the consumer:
Choice, Innovation and Price and for the market a boost to competition, investment and innovation.
Sky will be required to make a “reference offer” – a template contract to other pay TV providers – within six weeks of May 31, 2010 according to the Ofcom document.
The consultation on Ofcom’s provisional decision to make a reference to the Competition Commission closes on 15 May and Ofcom expects to announce a final decision before summer 2010.
During August 2010, Sky Sports 1 and 2 was made available on terrestrial pay TV services BT Vision
BT Vision
BT Vision is a hybrid IPTV-digital terrestrial television service provided by BT Group in the United Kingdom which was launched in December 2006...
and Top Up TV
Top Up TV
Top Up TV is a pay television service in the UK launched in March 2004, operating on the digital terrestrial platform. The aim of the service is to "Top Up" Freeview customers by providing additional channels and services....
. It is unknown if this would cancel plans for Sky Picnic altogether.
Proposal
Sky currently broadcasts three free-to-airFree-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
services as part of Freeview on the digital terrestrial platform. These channels are Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
, Pick TV and Challenge on Multiplex C (COM5 post switchover), as well an interactive service available on compatible set-top boxes known as Sky Text
Sky Text
Sky Text is the Digital Teletext Service operated by British Sky Broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is available on Digital Satellite, Freeview Channel 108.-Features:*News Page 102*Finance*Sport Page 200...
. The submission stated that Sky planned to use the space they have on Multiplex C for a pay TV service offering at least five pay TV channels, which would be Sky Sports 1
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
, Sky Movies Showcase
Sky Movies
Sky Movies is the collective name for the premium subscription television movie channels operated by Sky Television, and later British Sky Broadcasting. It has around 5 million subscribers, via satellite, cable and IPTV in the UK and Ireland...
, Sky1, the Disney Channel
Disney Channel (UK)
Disney Channel is a children's entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1 October 1995. A one hour timeshift service called Disney Channel +1 is available on Sky and Virgin Media...
and the Discovery Channel. It would also offer at least one free-to-air channel that would be available through both Sky Picnic and Freeview, Sky News, and a free-to-air interactive service, Sky Text. However, broadcasting hours for Sky News would be reduced to 18:00 - 19:00 if Sky is not able to use at least four streams for the service. The remaining free-to-air channels, Pick TV and Challenge, will most likely be removed from Freeview.
The first stream would broadcast Sky Sports 1.
The second stream would broadcast Sky Movies Showcase from 18:00 to around 03:00 in the morning. The Disney Channel Preview would then start from where Sky Movies Showcase finishes and end at 06:00, when the Disney Channel starts up.
The third stream would broadcast Discovery Channel from 06:00 to 18:00. Sky News would broadcast from 18:00 until 19:00, allowing Sky1 to take over until 06:00.
However, should the company later acquire permission to broadcast on more of Multiplex C, the fourth stream would be used to continue Sky News on a 24/7 basis, while Sky1 broadcast hours would be increased to start at 18:00.
Sky also plans to use a conditional access
Conditional access
Conditional Access is the protection of content by requiring certain criteria to be met before granting access to this content...
system supplied by NDS Group
NDS Group
NDS Group Plc. is a developer of pay TV technology. NDS was established in 1988 as an Israeli start up company. It was acquired by News Corporation in 1992. The company is currently headquartered in Staines, United Kingdom...
for the Picnic service. This will be a different conditional access technology to that used by Top Up TV which is already on the platform.
Format
Sky is currently using the MPEG-2MPEG-2
MPEG-2 is a standard for "the generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information". It describes a combination of lossy video compression and lossy audio data compression methods which permit storage and transmission of movies using currently available storage media and transmission...
compression format which is currently used by its free-to-air services. They indicated to Ofcom in the consultation document that they would like to move over to the more efficient MPEG-4
MPEG-4
MPEG-4 is a method of defining compression of audio and visual digital data. It was introduced in late 1998 and designated a standard for a group of audio and video coding formats and related technology agreed upon by the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group under the formal standard ISO/IEC...
format in the future, allowing for further broadcast capacity. It has been proposed that set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es compatible with the Sky Picnic service must support MPEG-4 (which is not currently used on the platform) in addition to MPEG-2. This would allow Sky to implement MPEG-4 without customers needing to upgrade their set-top box. Ofcom is yet to decide on whether MPEG-4 can be used on the DTT platform, and as part of this and other consultation processes, it is determining whether this is a viable option in the future.
Suspension
Sky had suspended the Picnic project with effect from 12 September 2008, pending the result of OfcomOfcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
's consultation into the service. Sky announced that they have completed all preparations for the service, and there was now no further work to be carried out for the launch to take place. 28 jobs were affected. A spokesperson for BSkyB
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
commented: "We want to invest in Picnic because it will be good for consumers and a good opportunity for Sky but the blunt truth is that Ofcom has spent 18 months looking at our proposals and there is no end in sight." The lifting of the suspension and progression with the remaining stages towards launch are now with Sky to consider following Ofcom's determination on March 31, 2010.
Compatibility
Although Picnic has been suspended, a series of set-top boxSet-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es, branded as Picnic-ready, were made available in Currys
Currys
Currys is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is owned by Dixons Retail plc. It specialises in selling home electronics and household appliances, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores...
stores throughout the UK in late 2009. The boxes were manufactured by Sagem
SAGEM
SAGEM was a major French company involved in defence electronics, consumer electronics and communication systems.In 2005, Sagem merged with SNECMA to form SAFRAN...
and are standard definition versions of their ITD81 receivers with a NDS compatible card slot. They were sold cheaply by Currys as standard Freeview boxes at around £20. While they do carry the Picnic logo, any mention of the pay TV service on the packaging was covered by dark labeling. They had proven popular among enthusiasts in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
as their MPEG-4 capability allowed them to receive the RTÉ NL DTT service tests, now known as Saorview
Saorview
Saorview is the national free-to-air digital terrestrial television service in Republic of Ireland.The service began operation on 29 October 2010 on a trial basis with full launch on 26 May 2011. By legislation it was required to be available to approximately 90% of the population by end of...
. The Picnic STB can no longer receive RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
as it is now transmitted in HD with no SD simulcast, because the Picnic STB is incapable of receiving DVB-T2 standard. However, the remaining channels can still be received, until they switch over to DVB-T2 standard as well.