Freesat cleared to carry pay-TV sports channels

UK satellite platform Freesat will be able to offer pay-television sports channels via broadband connections, it has been confirmed.

The BBC Trust, the UK public-service broadcaster’s independent governing body, has approved the move. Freesat is jointly owned by the BBC and UK commercial broadcaster ITV.

The addition of pay-television sports channels on Freesat, which is available in nearly two million households, required the approval of the BBC Trust.

Freesat managing director Alistair Thom described the approval as “a really important development… which will significantly impact our content offering.”

There have been reports that Freesat could offer Sky Sports channels following the approval.