Sky Sports News goes exclusively pay

UK pay-TV operator BSkyB’s sports news channel Sky Sports News is now available exclusively on pay-TV platforms. The channel had been available on Freeview but Sky pulled it, seemingly as part of a defensive strategy in light of increased competition from other operators.

Sky decided to make Sky Sports News available exclusively on pay-TV platforms following regulator Ofcom’s decision to force the operator to sell its premium channels at a wholesale price, meaning Virgin Media, BT and Top Up TV are all offering Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2.

The sports news channel has been replaced on Freeview with timeshift channel Sky 3 Plus 1. 

The changes have also seen Sky launch a HD version of Sky Sports News exclusively on Sky’s platform. It has also launched a new iPad app offering breaking news stories.