[JMT1985]

It’s not a question of not being open to UK channels - whether that was ever even informally the case, it was shattered the minute Sky News went on. But channels need to want to go on, and the rate card makes it uneconomical to do so for many broadcasters. I suspect the only ones that are likely to be added in the medium term are Sky Arts and Sky Mix.

The big win would be the UK terrestrials - but the BBC won’t go on unless they are paid to do so (or at least it is cost neutral) and ITV and Channel 5 won’t go on for rights reasons. Channel 4 might but they would need the numbers to work.

Then why did Challenge get launched on there? Of all the UK channels to go on Saorview, a game show repeat channel owned by Sky was their option. 

Since Sky Ireland and Virgin Media Ireland, Eir, Vodafone TV all offer a selection of UK channels already, rights issues shouldn't be a problem surely?