British Sky Broadcasting Plc’s much vaunted satellite digital television launch this month will start with more of a whimper than a bang, according to a report in the Financial Times. The report says that BSkyB will offer the service only to its ‘most loyal customers’ with a roll out for existing subscribers expected later in the summer. New customers will not be able to subscribe to the digital service until the fall. BSkyB is not able to offer the digital service as an option to all its current subscribers yet because, of the four firms contracted to produce the set-top boxes – Pace Micro Technology Ltd, Amstrad Plc, Panasonic Industrial Co and Grundig AG – only Pace will deliver its box on time.
