YouSee channel shake-up

Danish cablenet YouSee is making a series of changes to its channel line-up, coinciding with the country’s single digital switchover on November 1.

The company has reacted angrily to a report by the public broadcaster Danmarks Radio, which said YouSee was using analogue switch off to reduce the number of available channels, the operator pointing out it is simply carrying out its annual channel review on the same date.

DK4, DR Kultur and DR HD will all join the basic package, as will DR Ramasjang, the public broadcaster’s new children’s channel for three to ten year-olds. Ramasjang will be available in both analogue and digital packages.

Meanwhile the French language TV5 Monde is moving from the extended basic package to the basic package for digital customers.

Germany’s Sat 1, Viasat Explorer, Viasat History and Blue Hustler are all moving from the basic package to the favourite package while TV2 Norway is being withdrawn.

Music Choice discontinued distribution in September after the two parties were unable to reach acceptable terms for a new carriage agreement amid high music copyright payments.

A 1.75% price increase will take place on January 1, 2010. YouSee says this is due to a combination of price inflation and rising prices from the copyright clearing houses Copy-Dan and Koda. This will take the cost of the basic package (Grundpakke) to DKK 166 per month (€22.30), the intermediate package (Mellempakke) to DKK 299 and the big basic Fuldpakke to DKK 397.