Sky has called off its Picnic, which is irritating because I'd packed cake and everything. Yes, BSkyB announced last week that it was calling off plans to replace its three channels on Freeview with a pay-TV service, working title Picnic, which would enable Freeview viewers to access some of Sky's premium programmes via the terrestrial digital network.
Sky blamed OfCom for its decision, saying the media regulator had taken too long to consider its proposals - which would need their approval given that it would see the loss of free services on Freeview. But OfCom refuted those claims in a statement this weekend, saying its investigation had been delayed because Sky took two months to provide relevant information.
The OfCom statement said: "Ofcom rejects the implications of BSkyB's comments today. The Picnic proposal raises complex issues and is likely to have a significant effect on the future development of the pay-TV market as a whole. BSkyB took two months to submit the necessary application and a further two months to provide sufficient information to enable Ofcom to publish a consultation document on the matter".
BSkyB says that it had hired 70 staff to work on Picnic, including 40 contractors who had now been let go. It is in consultation with the other 30 staff, which it says it hopes to deploy elsewhere.