Editing ITV Digital (section)

===The launch===
[[File:Ondigitallogo.svg|right|thumb|upright=0.7|ONdigital logo from 1998 to 2001]]
ONdigital was officially launched on 15 November 1998 amid a large public ceremony featuring celebrity [[Ulrika Jonsson]] and fireworks around the [[Crystal Palace transmitting station]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/214809.stm|title=BBC News – The Company File – First shots in Digital TV war|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Its competitor [[Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)|Sky Digital]] had already debuted on 1 October.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/edinburgh_festival/161218.stm|title=BBC News – Edinburgh Festival – Digital TV makers plan cheaper packages|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The service launched with 12 primary channels, which included the new [[BBC Choice]] and [[ITV2]] channels; a subscription package featuring channels such as [[Sky One]], [[Cartoon Network (British and Irish TV channel)|Cartoon Network]], [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]], [[UKTV]] channels and many developed in-house by Carlton and Granada such as [[Carlton World]]; premium channels including [[Sky Sports]] 1, 2, 3, [[Sky Cinema|Sky Premier and Sky MovieMax]]; and the newly launched [[FilmFour]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ondigital-line-up-and-launch-date-unveiled-1201238.html|title=ONdigital line-up and launch date unveiled}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.mediatel.co.uk/newsline/1998/09sep/28/ondig.htm
 |title        = ONdigital Announces Channel Packages And Launch Date
 |date         = 28 September 1998
 |publisher    = MediaTel
 |access-date  = 4 March 2007
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20020420235529/http://www.mediatel.co.uk/newsline/1998/09sep/28/ondig.htm
 |archive-date = 20 April 2002
 |url-status     = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/media-ondigital-challenge-sky-unfazed-supply-problems-its-set-top-boxes-pay-tv-company-ondigital-remains-optimistic-its-recent-launch-its-power/60262|title=MEDIA: ONdigital to challenge Sky – Unfazed by supply problems with its set-top boxes, pay-TV company ONdigital remains optimistic about its recent launch and its power to compete with Sky, writes Conor Dignam}}</ref>

From the beginning, however, the company was quickly losing money. Supply problems with set-top boxes meant that the company missed Christmas sales and retailers had to wait several months for the customers to receive their boxes. Meanwhile, aggressive marketing by BSkyB for Sky Digital made the ONdigital offer look unattractive. The new digital satellite service provided a dish, [[Digibox (Sky Digital)|digibox]], installation and around 200 channels for £159, a lower price than ONdigital at £199. Sky had also launched earlier, meaning they had a head start over the ONdigital service. ONdigital's subscription pricing had been set to compare with the older Sky [[analogue television|analogue]] service of 20 channels.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/142310.stm|title=BBC News – Entertainment – BSkyB to woo digital market|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In 1999, digital cable services were launched by [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]], [[Telewest]] and [[Cable & Wireless plc|Cable & Wireless]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/323190.stm|title=BBC News – Entertainment – Digital cable TV 'will be a hit'|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

In February 1999, [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] secured the rights for [[UEFA Champions League]] football matches for four years,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/feb/25/broadcasting3|title=Timeline: a history of TV football rights|date=25 February 2003|website=The Guardian}}</ref> which would partly be broadcast through ONdigital.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bufton |first=Jonathan |date=1 January 2001 |title=ONtrack again |url=https://www.transdiffusion.org/2001/01/01/ontrack |access-date=27 July 2022 |website=Transdiffusion}}</ref> Two sports channels were added to the platform, Champions ON 28 and Champions ON 99 (later renamed ONsport 1 and ONsport 2 when it secured the rights to [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] tennis games), the latter of which timeshared with [[Carlton Cinema (TV channel)|Carlton Cinema]]. Throughout 1999, channels including [[MTV (British and Irish TV channel)|MTV]] and [[British Eurosport]] launched on the platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://625.uk.com/digital/|title=Digital TV|first=Andrew|last=Wiseman|website=625.uk.com}}</ref> The exclusive [[Carlton Kids]] and [[Carlton World]] channels closed in 2000 to make way for two [[Discovery Channel (British and Irish TV channel)|Discovery]] channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntosh |first=Bill |date=1999-12-22 |title=Discovery channels boost ONdigital |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/discovery-channels-boost-ondigital-1134114.html |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

ONdigital reported in April 1999 that it had 110,000 subscribers, while Sky Digital had over 350,000 by that time.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> By March 2000, there were 673,000 ONdigital customers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/analysis-brand-spend-analysis-ondigital-will-continue-spend-heavily-itv-vies-sky-viewers/31435|title=Analysis: Brand spend analysis – ONdigital will continue to spend heavily on ITV as it vies with Sky for viewers}}</ref>

The first interactive digital service was launched in mid-1999, called ONgames. On 7 March 2000, [[ONmail]] was launched which provided an interactive [[e-mail]] service.<ref>{{cite web
    | url = http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=53031
    | title = Ondigital on course for 1 million customers
    | publisher = PR Newswire
}}</ref> A deal with multiplex operator [[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]] led to the launch of [[pay-per-view]] service ONrequest on 1 May 2000. In June 2000, ONoffer was launched. On 18 September 2000, the [[internet]] TV service ONnet was launched.<ref>{{cite web
    | url   = http://www.e-repair.co.uk/story36.htm
    | title = ONnet Hits The Streets With More Than 40 Brands On Board
    | date  = 18 September 2000
|publisher=Service Engineers Forum
}}</ref>

On 17 June 2000, ONdigital agreed to a £315 million three-year deal with the [[English Football League|Football League]] to broadcast 88 live Nationwide League and [[EFL Cup|Worthington Cup]] matches from the 2001–02 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/163-315m-nets-ondigital-and-itv-league-rights-1-462058|title=£315m nets ONdigital and ITV League rights}}</ref>