‘Super Channel’ starts

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 19

‘Super Channel’ starts

NZPA-Reuter London A British satellite television channel for Europe: "Super Channel,” went on the air at the week-end with a potential audience of six million households in 14 countries.

It will provide a 24 hour English-language service using programmes from the British Broadcasting Corporation (8.8. C. Independent Television (1.T.V.) and the Virgin Group, who all have a stake in the channel, I.T.V. said. Viewers are connected to a cable television network or equipment with a satellite receiver, dish. News bulletins will concentrate on European events. I.T.V. said 10 hours of pop music were planned each day and most of the rest would be devoted to documentaries, game shows, soap operas and other programmes; The Channel will be in competition with the Londonbased pioneer, Sky Channel, owned by the newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Another British-based rival, M.T.V. Music Television, is expected in the spring as a joint venture between Viacom International Robert Maxwell’s Mirror Group Newspaper and British Telecom, the country’s telecommunications company.