Channel 4 to join Freesat

Channel 4 will be joining the Freesat line-up in 2008 when its encryption contract with Sky expires.
The broadcaster will be part of Freesat from its launch in early 2008, thanks to Film4, though the other Four-branded channels are currently covered by a Sky encryption contract until August/September 2008 (not confirmed).

A Channel 4 source confirmed that the expiry date of the contract – which ties Channel 4, E4 and More4 to Sky – is “imminent”, and it will not be renewed. It will not however, run out in time for the Channel 4 family to join Freesat at launch.
Channel 4’s channels will be moved to Astra 2D so they can broadcast unencrypted to the UK, without worries of spilling across Europe, and Channel 4 will be acquiring more capacity on Astra 2D for its timeshift and high definition channels.