U.K. satellite pay-TV operator BSkyB (Sky) is significantly enhancing the parental controls to its services. The new upgrades will enable parents to restrict access to all channels, or even to remove all adult channels listings from Sky’s Electronic Program Guide (EPG). The new controls will be made available to all Sky and Sky+ boxes by Summer 2005. The controls are in addition to the existing ratings and spending limits that are already available via the parental control facility. Sky calls this the most significant enhancement to its parental control facility since the launch of the Sky Digital service seven years ago.

Brian Sullivan, director of customer products and services at Sky, said, “Digital television brings an unprecedented choice of viewing but parents want to be sure that their families get the best out of what’s on offer. With these new controls, Sky is giving parents peace of mind and the ability to really manage their children’s viewing.”