UK subscription-free satellite TV service Freesat has been cleared by the BBC Trust to offer live pay sports services delivered via broadband. The decision will help to progress Freesat’s ongoing conversations with content providers.

The BBC Trust decision comes as Freesat continues to expand its content offering to bring the most attractive line-up of programming to its customers. With a focus on integrated content delivered via broadcast and broadband Freesat already offers more than 200 channels and a number of leading on demand services – such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

“This is a really important development for Freesat which will significantly impact our content offering,” stated Alistair Thom, Managing Director of Freesat. “We’re here to provide a compelling subscription-free TV service, and believe our viewers should have the option to watch a wide variety of TV programmes and events without being tied down to a contract. We will continue innovating to provide a brilliant, subscription-free service for our ever-growing number of viewers.”

Freesat is jointly-owned by the BBC and ITV, which means the BBC Trust’s approval is required for the new step of adding live pay sports coverage. The satellite platform is now available in over 1.93 million households and is watched by more than four million viewers every week.

There are over 200 channels available on Freesat, with a number of new channels recently joining the platform including PBS America, Fox International Channels’ YourTV and UKTV channels Yesterday, Drama and Really. In addition, streaming service Netflix launched on Freesat Humax set-top-boxes in December, and Wuaki.tv launched last month, ensuring customers continue to enjoy a broad selection of content through the connected TV platform.

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