Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

Sky have said they might make Sky Arts Free-To-Air if they can get Freeview carriage.

https://www.rxtvlog.com/2020/03/sky-...h-planned.html

Presumably this could end up on FreeSat too since they have their 3 channels with main multiplex Freeview coverage on FreeSat already.

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

I can't see them shutting down Sky News on freeview. I think Challenge will be for the chop as its full of 20 year old gameshows.

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

It would make sense. Arts is a subject that has a bigger audience among those who are least likely to pay extra for their telly. Sky Arts has a good reputation and expanding brand awareness, and it is probably now at the stage where it can support the Sky brand more effectively by sitting outside the paywall and directing people inwards, rather than sitting inside it and trying to entice people in.

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

Given Sky are using Public Service Broadcasting as part of their excuse, Sky News is safe. Pick TV has higher ratings than Challenge, so if they have trouble getting space I agree it's the most likely candidate.

I'd be surprised if they don't get space though, as there are currently multiple free streams on Freeview's main multiplexes, and potentially a few more given SDN recently added a 17th and 18th video stream, which could be replicated on COM5 and COM6.

In my opinion Sky Arts has gone downhill since they axed their 2nd channel, they show much more in the way of Pop Concerts than they used to, and there is less variety of content. And this change coincided with the axing of the 2nd channel.

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

Free culture for the masses ! I'm sure they'll appreciate it...

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

if you’re being ironic, you’re also being ignorant - there are lots of examples of working class being involved in cultural endeavours; here in Leeds we’ve had the Swarthmore College which been going for over 100 years, and where I was brought up in Glasgow, there was/is the Pearce Institute (and many others), which has been going for around the same length of time (for example, later this month, the PI is showing a festival of graduating student work from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Contemporary Performance Practice programme).

"Working Class" does not equate to "uncultured".

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

I’ve read rumours this evening that Sky are looking into merging Pick and Blaze into one channel and launching Sky Arts at channel 63. Or Pick remains at 11, Challenge drops to 63 and Sky Arts launches at 46.

Re: Possible Sky Arts channel to go Free-To-Air
 

What's your source? I've only see Media Boy suggest it, the wording used didn't give me the impression it was anything other than that. But he didn't give exactly the same info, so you've seen it elsewhere?