<font color=cc0000>CONFIRMED:</font> Sky Movies, Sky One go widescreen from summer

Updated: 14.48

All of the Sky Movies channels will go widescreen from the summer, Digital Spy can confirm.

Sky currently aim for a June rollout, but an exact date has not yet been confirmed.

Sky have also announced today the introduction of widescreen on Sky One and Sky One Mix from "later this summer". There are no current plans for Sky News to go widescreen, Sky tell us, although the situation is under "constant review".

As a result of the changes, Sky Movies Premier Widescreen will be renamed Sky Movies Premier 5 and extended to a full 24-hour channel.

Sky are reviewing what will happen with Dolby Digital 5.1 transmissions for Sky+ users, although it will be available on selected channels.

This afternoon's announcement comes days after it was revealed Sky Box Office would get the interactive treatment across all of its screens from April 2.

"In response to customer demand and Sky's strategic positioning, aiming to offer the most advanced TV platform, we are increasing the widescreen output for Sky Box Office bringing viewers even closer to the cinema experience in their home," said Dawn Airey, Sky Networks MD. "Further widescreen broadcasts across Sky Movies and Sky One will be forthcoming throughout 2003."

Programmes broadcast in the widescreen format will be indentifiable by the 'W' symbol in the programme information panel, accessible by pressing the 'i' key on a Sky remote.

Stick with Digital Spy over the coming months for the latest on the widescreen rollout.