Solent TV plans March launch on Sky

Solent TV will launch on Sky next March, the channel confirmed to Digital Spy tonight.

The channel's director of broadcasting Paul Topping said that the "confirmed launch date" is March 14, 2006. Solent will be the first local TV channel to launch nationally via Sky.

Speaking at the original announcement in August, Topping said the move "will mean our viewers, and those Islanders who have always wanted to watch, will now be able to see our programmes in a crystal clear digital format."

Solent's analogue terrestrial TV transmissions will continue for several years to come, and the channel will continue to stream online via solent.tv.