BT will be selling satellite dishes from their BT shops and ‘selected high street outlets’ from the autumn according to press reports out today.
The satellite dishes, which will be used to receive BSkyB broadcasts from the Astra satellite will be in direct competition with Amstrad, currently the largest supplier of satellite dishes and receivers. BT and BSkyB are believed to be discussing a deal which would give each access to the other’s customers.
Experience gained from this venture will undoubtedly assist BT when it is permitted to use its fast expanding fibre optic network for TV, something which is currently prohibited under the terms of its licensing agreement.
In terms of the satellite market, Continental Research’s last figure for March 93 put the size of the market at 3.2m, a rise of 35% on the previous year. By the end of 93 Zenith, in their ‘UK Forecasts to 2003’, put the total satellite market at 3.857m, which represents a penetration of 17.4% of UK homes. By 2003 this figure is expected to rise to 123.89m (53.1%), although in terms of how homes will receive channels cable will have taken over as the dominant delivery option.
