Telstra Saturn to boost cover

By RICHARD BRADDELL

Telstra Saturn's Sky Television reselling deal aims to bolster the company's footprint outside its cable network area and will not replace its existing consumer television service.

Telstra Saturn operates only in Wellington but plans to offer cable television, broadband internet and telephony services in Christchurch in a network to be commissioned at the end of the year. Construction of an Auckland network will also begin once resource consents are obtained.

Sky's premium sport and movie channels will not be resold by Telstra Saturn's consumer arm, Saturn Communications.

Saturn managing director Sean Wynne said apart from a couple of channels, Sky's lineup was identical to Saturn's, so there was no intention of offering Sky as a replacement.

"For video, right now, we are dependent on our own network," Mr Wynne said, adding that the Sky deal would enable Telstra Saturn to bundle video, dial-up internet and long-distance calling in areas where it did not have a network.