Real Digital wins right to distribute Sky Sports channels

UK pay TV startup Real Digital has secured the right to be included as a wholesale distributor of BSkyB’s Sky  Sports 1 and 2 channels from the Competition Appeals Tribunal.

The decision means that Real Digital will be able to distribute the channels on a similar basis to that  which allows BT, Virgin and TopUp TV to retail the channels, subject only to agreeing contractual terms with BSkyB.

Real Digital plans to offer a digital satellite pay TV service with a mix of pay channels to the UK and Ireland from January. The company was licensed as an EPG provider by Ofcom in March. The service will be available via existing Sky and Freesat dishes and a set-top box available for £159 (€185) or £270 for a DVR version.