Last updated 21:58, Wednesday, 06 August 2008

BERWICKSHIRE, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Michael Moore has voiced concern over reports that Sky has sent letters asking for payment of £250 to recipients of free digital set-top boxes.

Michael Moore

Last month Sky was awarded the contract to deliver the targeted help scheme, which is funded by the BBC out of its licence fee settlement.

It has now emerged that Sky has asked for payment for the installation of its system to between 50 and 60 viewers in the ITV Border region who have had Sky installed as part of the help scheme.

Mr Moore believes that the sending of these letters raises serious questions about the decision to award the contract to Sky.

He said: “The news that Sky has been sending standard demands for payment, with the usual charge of £250 for having a Sky plus system installed, to the first recipients of the help scheme calls into serious question its assertion that these viewers will not become part of Sky’s marketing machine.

“Under the terms of the agreement, Sky pledged not to market these viewers for 13 months. I think that is woefully inadequate because, once the 13 months is up, these older and more vulnerable viewers could be sent mountains of marketing material.

“It is now of more concern that these viewers appear not to have been separated out from Sky’s regular customers. Where is the protection that was promised?”

Digital UK says help for thousands of older and disabled viewers in the ITV Border region has been unveiled by the switchover help scheme.

For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people will get easy-to-use satellite equipment to convert one television to digital.

Eligible viewers on income benefits will receive free help. The fee covers installation and a demonstration.

The equipment, provided by Sky, will offer access to more than 200 free TV and radio channels. Other digital television options, including Freeview and Freesat, will be available. For more information go to www.helpscheme.co.uk/en/home/index.php.

Digital UK has also expanded its team in the region with the appointment of Victoria Vincent as retail support executive.

She is working with retail outlets to help them support customers with the switch to digital.

Ten new products have been awarded the easy-to-install badge by Digital UK and Ricability, the independent research and testing organisation.

The scheme identifies digital TV products that are easy for consumers to self-install and retune.

For more information go to www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk.