Re: Freeview changes
 

According to a516digital on Twitter the company has appointed UKTV directors with a link to a .gov website in the thread. So it seems the UKTV takeover of CCXTV is real and the BARB ratings grouping with the other UKTV channels wasn't an error.

https://twitter.com/a516digital/stat...85224856031233

Re: Freeview changes
 

What's happening with Freeview, went to watch 'Can't pay we'll take it away' normally channel 30 (Blaze ?) and I got 'no signal', so I retuned and I still could not get it. Then I tried 'storage wars' channel 63, again no joy, also wanted to watch Pawn stars without success. What channel can I find these on now please?:(

Re: Freeview changes
 

CPWTIA is on channel 31 5STAR from 12:00 tomorrow.
Storage Wars and Pawn Stars are on channel 63 Blaze, starting 19:00 tomorrow.

If you're getting "no signal", you may have a problem with your aerial.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Try re-tuning. No signal usually means they've shifted things about (again :rolleyes:)

Re: Freeview changes
 

New changes on Freeview from 7th December.

"What's changing...
Channel - Channel Number - New Channel Number
Dave Ja Vu 79 > 23
Yesterday+1 75 > 74
CCX TV 23 > 73
Jewellery Maker 73 > 71
Shopping Quarter 74 > 72

Other changes...
Ketchup Channel will be renamed to Ketchup TV"

Source: https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/chan...ges-7-Dec-2020

---------- Post added at 15:18 ---------- Previous post was at 15:05 ----------



For me Dave Ja Vu being moved to 23 and Yesterday remaining at 26 is confirmation that Dave Ja Vu is now a temporary placeholder for a future channel (e.g. maybe Eden going Free-To-Air) as you don't move a +1 with much lower ratings above another of your own Non+1 channels. It's plainly a precursor to a future change.

Re: Freeview changes
 

​@ukdtt on Twitter has noticed an OFCOM license that suggests GOLD is coming to Freeview, and therefore probably FTA on other platforms.

https://twitter.com/ukdtt/status/1338359321256718337​​

Now that UKTV has got 24 hour streams for Dave Ja Vu and CCXTV maybe UKTV are making two channels FTA? Until this license got reported I thought speculation about this unlikely. Less so now.

Dave Ja Vu is at too prominent an EPG number (23) for a +1 so I still feel it's a placeholder. I know I'm a stuck record on this, but I can still see Eden going FTA as it's ratings are much worse than the rest of UKTV's channels, except for CCXTV which they just bought.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Apparently the GOLD Freeview license was an administrative mistake.

RAM on Digital Spy has posted that they emailed UKTV and got the following reply.

"Dear Viewer,

Thank you for your email.

Thanks for your message and to confirm, Gold is not moving into Free to Air. Unfortunately Ofcom inadvertently published Dave’s license on its website. As Dave is a free to air channel this made it look like Gold was moving into Free. This is not the case and Ofcom have now corrected their website. We hope this clarifies the situation and thank you very much for your interest in UKTV’s channels. "

Re: Freeview changes
 

​CCXTV has no EPG information from next Monday according to @Page_888 on Twitter.

This was then confirmed by @budgie on Twitter who posted a photo showing an on-screen message saying it's closing on 1st February to be replaced by Drama+1.
https://mobile.twitter.com/budgie/st...39139200536578

---------- Post added at 19:20 ---------- Previous post was at 19:14 ----------

​Also @ukdtt on Twitter says PBS America and +1 are moving to 84 and 87 respectively from 1st February.

There are obviously going to be more moves as these numbers are currently occupied.

I can't find a source for those to confirm yet. But there are some gaps needing filled so I can see more shuffling happening.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Official update post now on Freeview website.

https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/chan...number-changes

It worked out the way I thought when I saw the new PBS numbers the other day.

Service changes
CCXTV --> Drama +1 Ch73

Channel number changes

Now 70s 78--> 75
Now 80s 83--> 76
Now 90s 84--> 78
Clubland TV 82--> 79
Together TV 87--> 82
Together TV +1 88--> 83
PBS America 91--> 84
PBS America +1 93--> 87
Forces TV 96--> 88
Country Music Entertainment 98--> 89

Re: Freeview changes
 

​Forces TV is no longer moving number today on Freeview. Country Music Entertainment is now moving to Ch88 instead.

Heads-up from a516digital today on Twitter. Confirmed on the updated Freeview page (link in above post).

Re: Freeview changes
 

​According to @ukdtt Together+1 is closing on Freeview. @a516digital has posted a photo of confirmation from EPG data.

There has been speculation from others that their stream is being used for Court TV, which is launching on Freeview on Monday.

Given they only just moved up the EPG, there would have been no reason to bother unless they knew something was taking the slot.

If true, I assume the recent consultation has been given the go-ahead as Together TV has nothing to do with Court TV, so the new LCN trading rules would need to be in effect.

Re: Freeview changes
 

​Court TV now on Ch 89 on COM7.

Together TV +1 Ch 83 (COM7) has closed.
Midnight to 3am on Together TV Ch82 is vacant so I can see them parking the LCN there in the weeks to come.

Re: Freeview changes
 

An ad on NOW 80s has revealed that NOW 80s will become NOW 70s on Freeview Channel 76 from April 28th.

Source: NOW 80s.

No news on what will happen to Freeview Channel 75 or if NOW 80s has got an new slot on Freeview has been seen by Media Boy HQ at time of posting.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Odd. Thanks Media Boy.

Maybe it's going to be the first to use the new EPG trading rules? Some maybe wanted 75 and Now 70s parent company was willing? Forces TV put off a change to advance in the last mini reshuffle, maybe they wanted a more meaningful move before inconveniencing their viewers? Could be Together, PBS or Talking Pictures too.

3 of the 4 channels from that broadcaster are on G-Man and 1 is on COM7. And at least 1 of them is available via one of the IP channel portals.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Update

NOW 70s moves to NOW 80s old slot on COM7
NOW 80s moves to NOW 70s old slot on G-Man
GB News has appeared on Freeview Channel 236 using COM6.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Apparently this Now Music change is only until some time in the Summer.

Source: Now Music on Twitter. https://twitter.com/NOWMusic/status/1387403404943794179

Re: Freeview changes
 

​The Sony to Great! rebrands have all happened today.

GREAT! TV Ch 49 was Sony Channel

GREAT! Movies Classic Ch 51 was Sony Movies Classic

GREAT! Movies Ch 33 was Sony Movies

GREAT! Movies Action Ch 41 was Sony Movies Action​



And the +1s

GREAT! TV +1 Ch 61

GREAT! Movies+1 ​Ch 60

GREAT! Movies Classic +1 Ch 62

Re: Freeview changes
 

​Court TV (Ch 89) has closed.

Heads-up from @ukdtt on Twitter. Confirmed on Freeview website.

https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/serv...urt-tv-closure

First of many imminent COM7 closures? Or just poor performance not justifying continued expenditure?

Not sure about status on other platforms at time of typing.

Re: Freeview changes
 

That's TV Gold - Channel 91 on COM7.
Shopping Quarter (Channel 72) has moved from BBCB (aka PSB3) to COM6.

So it looks like Local TV operator That's TV is launching a nationwide music TV station.

No confirmation of content, just a guess it's music based on their current "local" output. The slogan on their new Twitter account says "The Home of Nostalgia", while the slate on Freeview says "Celebrating The Decades"

The Shopping Quarter multiplex move is interesting. Not because of the channel itself, but because it has moved from the highest geographic coverage coverage of PSB3 to COM6 which has lower coverage. Of course the chanfe from approx 98% population coverage to appox 90% also comes with a change from being DVB-T2 which only newer HD-capable Freeview tuners can decode, to DVB-T which all Freeview tuners can show.

The electronic programme guide seems to indicate that Shopping Quarter has a 24hr schedule so maybe it's taken the remaining COM6 stream that's been empty for a while. It's still broadcasting as I type so it's not taken sister channel Jewellery Maker's 8am-1pm timeshare slot. JM timeshares with PBS America, which is still broadcasting on Freeview so it's not that stream. SQ was broadcasting its content until 1pm then switched to JM content, so maybe SQ is sharing with JM on a full stream? And as I've just noticed whilst typing this, it is indeed sharing, there a notice on the Channel 71 off-air slate that says it is on Channel 72 from 1pm to 5pm.

Now SQ has vacated PSB3 maybe the other SD channel there will be following suit soon? TBN UK now has nowhere to go (if SQ took stream 16 on COM6) unless it Arqiva ups the total number of video streams on its two multiplexes from 16 to 18 to match SDN (COM4).

If both SD channels are leaving BBCB (PSB3) then that's the first indication, in my opinion, that (at least) another HD stream is to be fitted onto it. Though with new encoders it could be more, and needs to be if the BBC is going to fit BBC News HD and BBC4 HD/CBeebies HD in time for (temporary multiplex) COM7's closure due June 2022, or earlier if EE wants its spectrum sooner.

With the commitment to have BBC1 English regions HD by end of 2022 then BBCB(PSB3) needs changes/upgraded equipment anyway, so there's the opportunity to do more at the same time.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I think Sewing Street will be moving soon to Jewellery Maker's part time slot on Freeview so that Shopping Quarter aka Jewellery Maker can air like it do on both Sky and Virgin Media UK.

By the way Sewing Street posted on Facebook something is set to happen on Thursday to the PSB3 stream on Freeview.

An other channel to move streams on Thursday?
An new to Freeview channel to launch on PBS3 stream on Thursday?

Re: Freeview changes
 

It reads to me more like they didn't know the exact date of the multiplex move, so they gave a range. I don't think anything will happen on Thursday, the Shopping Quarter on PSB3 closed when it started on COM6.

Re: Freeview changes
 

​Ok here's a move you couldn't see coming.

5Select is moving to a DVB-T2 multiplex on 1st July.

Most likely to be BBCB/PSB3 as the wording says "We're making these changes to ensure the continued availability of 5Select into the future​​" and COM7 is temporary.

https://faqs.channel5.com/hc/en-us/a...st-July​

Why it would move from COM4, where 4 other of its channels are, isn't obvious. It is the lowest rated, bearing in mind that there aren't separate C5+1 ratings on the BARB website and you'd expect that to actually be the lowest rating of the Freeview-available channels.

When many (including me) had been expecting PSB3 to be adding extra HD streams and so vacating the SD channels, this is a surprise if it is indeed going to the stream just vacated by Shopping Quarter.

Is there going to be a reconfiguring of COM4 needing space to implement?

Is it simply a cost cutting measure since DTT is the most expensive platform to broadcast on?

So many things to wonder about.

---------- Post added at 11:53 ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 ----------

The pop-up message is already showing on the channel telling you you need to retune on the 1st as there's going to ne a change. Most DVB-T2 tuners automatically retune anyway so the retune information is in some respects unnecessary.

Maybe it should instead say "you may lose this channel on the 1st, if you can't see it after this date you need to upgrade to a Freeview HD or Play branded device".

Re: Freeview changes
 

Look like ViacomCBS deal with COM4 to broadcast Channel 5 + 24/My 5/ 5Select is up and an other broadcaster (unkown at time of posting) has out bid ViacomCBS for that slot.

So with the info you have posted it look like 5Select will be move to BBC B/PSB3

Re: Freeview changes
 

I've come up with an alternative idea regarding what's happening with 5Select. It's unlikely though.

The information posted by Channel 5 says it's only going to be receivable on Freeview via equipment with an HD tuner, so the automatic thinking is BBCB/PSB3 or the temporary COM7 but that's not actually the only possibility.

In the UK our HD DTT multiplexes have all been DVB-T2 with MPEG4 streams carrying the HD and SD channels on them. However HD doesn't need to be MPEG4 and MPEG4 doesn't need to be DVB-T2. To my recollection Australia had (past tense) HD using MPEG2 and France used to have MPEG4 carried via DVB-T.

My point is that it that one of the current UK DVB-T multiplexes could carry an MPEG4 stream alongside the MPEG2 streams. A channel delivered this way would only be receivable by equipment with the ability to decode MPEG4, which in the UK would mean equipment that also happens to be DVB-T2. DVB-T2 equipment would decode the MPEG4 whether it is on T or T2.

Why would you want to carry MPEG4 on a DVB-T multiplex in the UK? Well it's a way of slowly transitioning services to better technology without switching the entire multiplex over and requiring all the channels on that multiplex to change at once.

There would be a gradual change, and one by one the entire multiplex will turn MPEG4. By the end you could simply upgrade the multiplex to DVB-T2 and benefit from the extra bandwidth from doing so, allowing more services or better quality transmission e.g. higher res SD or HD, or a mix of both.

DVB-T2 offers more bandwidth than DVB-T, it's not that HD or MPEG4 can't be delivered by the latter.

A mixed technology service has already been implemented in the UK, so it can be done. The main National 1 commercial DAB Radio multiplex has been carrying a mix of DAB and DAB+ for a few years now. Gradually more and more DAB+ stations have been added as the DAB stations have been removed. Old DAB equipment can see the DAB+ stations listed but not tune in, an incentive to upgrade but not rendering their existing equipment useless.

Maybe 5Select is remaining on COM4/SDN and simply this is the first of many channels to switch?

Re: Freeview changes
 

Due to Radio channels being on COM5 and COM6 they may not have room for up to 18 streams and can only hold 16 streams.

SDN has 18 streams but no radio channels.

Re: Freeview changes
 

SDN does carry radio. Capital, Absolute and Heart.
Source: https://www.freeview.co.uk/corporate...-professionals

Re: Freeview changes
 

oops

---------- Post added at 15:07 ---------- Previous post was at 14:54 ----------

But ARQ A broadcasts:
-talkSPORT (1)
-RNIB Connect (2)
-Classic FM (3)
-LBC (4)
-Trans World Radio (5)

And ARQ B broadcasts:
-Hits Radio (1)
-KISS FRESH (2)
-KISS (3)
-KISSTORY (4)
-Magic Radio (5)
-Greatest Hits Radio (6)
-Kerrang! Radio (7)
-Smooth Radio (8)
-Premier Radio (9)

So base on SDN Mux (By the looks of things Three Radio channels take up the space of one SD Channel).

ARQ A/COM5 have got room to launch an Radio channel and also an SD Channel.
ARQ B/COM6 have got no more room.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Thought COM5 and COM6 could similarly do the gradual transition to MPEG4 I suggested as a (slim) possibility above, I can't see Arqiva adding Shopping Quarter as MPEG2 on Tuesday if they were about to (slowly) transition a multiplex. COM4/SDN being owned by ITV has an interest in starting to move things forward as it brings ending dual transmission (HD/SD) of PSB closer, and the costs associated with it. If 5Select's contract was up maybe it's the first candidate for all transmission carriage renewal deals?

It probably will be BBCB/PSB3, I'm just positing an alternative possibility.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I think Ideal World (Channel 22) is up in 2022.

I think it stay to say 5Select's contract is up and need to move due to being outbid with an other unkown broadcaster.

In the past on Freeview Price Drop was axe for some months when Discovery was rumour to pay £10m for Price Drop slot to launch Quest.

Re: Freeview changes
 

5Select has moved from COM4 multiplex to BBCB/PSB3. Now requires DVB-T2 equipment to receive. Channel number of 55 remains unchanged.

365 Travel has been removed on Ch 251. This service was on COM4.

Re: Freeview changes
 

TV Channellists.com is today reporting that That's TV Gold is rumoured to launch Freeview HD and Sky on July 8th 2021.

https://www.tvchannellists.com/Forth...UK_%26_Ireland)

Re: Freeview changes
 

There's some posters on Digital Spy who are saying there's a noticeable change in programming from that date on the EPG schedule data. Not a complete change, but different enough.

Re: Freeview changes
 

That's TV Gold will broadcast the same as That's TV Local.

Thursday on both channels at 6am That's 80s will be broadcast. (After 9am no more listings That's TV Gold has appeared so far)

That's TV Local will broadcast That's TV Gold for up to 6 hours a day from Thursday.

Source: My TV Set.

Re: Freeview changes
 

New Shopping channel set to launch on Freeview.

DTT UK via Twitter is reporting that Ofcom has today given out an new DTPS channel licence to "CraftExtra".

https://twitter.com/ukdtt/status/1412316647965270017

Re: Freeview changes
 

I'd imagine it would cost too much to be worthwhile on COM4 and Ideal Extra launched on the Local mux much to many's surprise (as they weren't expecting an extra stream added), so I wouldn't put it past Ideal World putting it on COM7, knowing it won't be there for long and getting a cheap deal as a result. There's still an empty stream after That's TV Gold launches on it, to my recollection.

Maybe COM5 and COM6 might be reconfiguring for extra streams?

So many options. :D

I hope it isn't COM4, what a waste of an opportunity.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I think both BBC B and COM7 are full.

Base on COM4 (They can hold up to 18 streams) COM4 have room for one TV and one Radio Channel to launch due to 5Select moving to BBCB/PSB3 and 365 Travel being axe last week.

With COM5 and COM6 have got room to launch FOUR Channels.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I think Com 7 is due to close in June 2022ish, so I bet you're right and they have got a cheap deal.

Apparently, they've also been giving a free or hugely discounted months trial to let the Less popular channels try out Freeview to see if it's worth their while signing up for a longer term eg Court TV, That's TV Gold. Can't remember where I read it.

Re: Freeview changes
 

COM7 runs at over 36Mb/s
Currently 6 SD streams (soon to be 7 again) and 5 HD
BBCB runs at 40Mb/s
Currently 2 SD streams and 6 HD

The general rule of thumb is HD takes 4x space of SD so you could say BBCB is already carrying the equivalent of COM7 if you mentally converted its extra HD stream into 4 SD streams. And that's before you take into consideration the 40 Vs 36 Mb/s difference in bandwidth.

I vaguely recall COM7 had a maximum of 5HD and 8 SD after COM8 closed so I think there's one encoder unused there.

There seems to space for extra services on BBCB even before the multiplex gets reengineered for extra BBC1 and ITV regional HD, it's simply that there are no extra encoders in place before this reengineering takes place, the way I interpret it

I'd be interested in the source Richard.

Re: Freeview changes
 

That's TV Gold "launches" tonight at 9pm.

The other content looks like the same type of documentaries CCXTV had. There are film and sports docs so it's not going to be a music video channel.

https://twitter.com/ThatsTVGold/stat...16803934613509

Re: Freeview changes
 

Also the lineup will be same as That's TV Local but no TJC.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I was surprised when I heard that.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Here is the variations:

Everyday:
9am to 1pm - That's Golden Oldies (On That's TV Gold)
9am to 1pm - TJC (On That's Local)

Mondays to Fridays:
6pm to 7pm - That's ??s (On That's TV Gold)

6pm to 6.15pm - That's Local News (On That's TV Local)
6.15pm to 7pm - That's ??s (On That's Local)

I have got my own lineup on Freeview HD TV Set

That's tv Gold (Channel 56)
That's tv Scotland (Channel 57)
NOW ??s (Channel 58)

Re: Freeview changes
 

Even the ads is the same on That's TV Gold and That's TV Local.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I'm not surprised by that.

Re: Freeview changes
 

8 Channels has been removed from "Channelbox" Freeview channel 271.

https://twitter.com/a516digital/stat...50752429842432

Re: Freeview changes
 

I wouldn't be surprised if those involved are moving to one of Channelbox's Freeview portal rivals (e.g. VisionTV Ch264 and On Demand 365 Ch265) and/or it's related to IP Fallback being implemented.

Now 70s/90s, Clubland, Country Music Entertainment and TV Warehouse are all on the limited availability G-Man multiplex on Freeview and may be intending to utilise the new functionality and rules to expand their availability outside Greater Manchester on Internet-Connected TVs using their current allocated channel numbers.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Has BBC let cat of the bag???? Is S4C HD set to reappear on Freeview HD in Wales?

A516 Digital has reveal that BBC Three is set to launch only in SD in Wales and Scotland,

A516 Digital has found info that says that S4C HD is set to reappear on Freeview HD in Wales.

https://twitter.com/a516digital/stat...95639879024640

Re: Freeview changes
 

Not new, it was talked about months ago (that S4C wanted to use the space they were entitled to and so BBC3 would have to be SD only on Freeview in Scotland and Wales) when they announced BBC3's broadcast return, this is just the closest it's come to being official, or in public, rather than gossip of the "they've said in private" variety.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I wonder which would get the most viewers in Wales, BBC3 HD or S4C HD?

Re: Freeview changes
 

Media Boy Sources says Sky are going to stop providing their channels to other providers in the future, Comcast want Sky channels exclusive to Sky and Now.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I doubt they would take their FTA channels off Freeview as they are used to advertise their pay TV offerings.

Re: Freeview changes
 

An Consultation on amending our rules on creating slots for public service channels. Published on July 9th 2021 wants the following to happen:

Now:
23. Dave ja vu
24. BBC Four (Scotland only)
25. ITV4
26. Yesterday
27. ITVBe
28. ITV2 + 1
29. E4 +1
30. 4Music
31. 5Star
32. Paramount Network
33. GREAT! movies
34. ITV +1, UTV + 1 and STV + 1
35. Pick
36. QVC Beauty
37. QVC Style
38. DMAX
39. Quest Red
40. CBS Justice
41. GREAT! movies action
42. Food Network
43. HGTV
44. Gems TV
45. Channel 5 +1
46. Film4 +1
47. Challenge
48. 4seven
49. GREAT! tv
50. TJC
51. GREAT! movies classic
52. TG4 (N. Ireland only)
53. RTE One (N. Ireland only)
54. RTE2 (N. Ireland only)
55. 5SELECT
56. Smithsonian Channel
57. ITVBe +1
58. ITV3 +1
59. ITV4 +1
60. GREAT! movies +1
61. GREAT! tv +1
62. GREAT! movies classic +1
63. Blaze
64. FreeSports
65. TBN UK
66. CBS Reality
67. CBS Drama
68. Horror Channel
69. Quest +1
70. Quest Red +1
71. Jewellery Maker
72. Shopping Quarter
73. Drama +1
74. Yesterday +1
75. NOW 80s
76. NOW 70s
77. TCC
78. NOW 90s
79. Clubland TV
80. Blaze +1
81. Talking Pictures TV
82. Together TV
84. PBS America

If Digital UK get they way:
23. BBC Three
24. BBC Four (Scotland only)
25. Dave ja vu
26. ITV4
27. Yesterday
28. ITVBe
29. ITV2 + 1
30. E4 +1
31. 4Music
32. 5Star
33. Paramount Network
34. GREAT! movies
35. ITV +1, UTV + 1 and STV + 1
36. Pick
37. QVC Beauty
38. QVC Style
39. DMAX
40. Quest Red
41. CBS Justice
42. GREAT! movies action
43. Food Network
44. HGTV
45. Gems TV
46. Channel 5 +1
47. Film4 +1
48. Challenge
49. 4seven
50. GREAT! tv
51. TJC
52. GREAT! movies classic
53. TG4 (N. Ireland only)
54. RTE One (N. Ireland only)
55. RTE2 (N. Ireland only)
56. 5SELECT
57. Smithsonian Channel
58. ITVBe +1
59. ITV3 +1
60. ITV4 +1
61. GREAT! movies +1
62. GREAT! tv +1
63. GREAT! movies classic +1
64. Blaze
65. FreeSports
66. TBN UK
67. CBS Reality
68. CBS Drama
69. Horror Channel
70. Quest +1
71. Quest Red +1
72. Jewellery Maker
73. Shopping Quarter
74. Drama +1
75. Yesterday +1
76. NOW 80s
77. NOW 70s
78. TCC
79. NOW 90s
80. Clubland TV
81. Blaze +1
82. Talking Pictures TV
83. Together TV
84. PBS America

https://www.freeview.co.uk/sites/def...-lcns-2021.pdf

Re: Freeview changes
 

5Select has been removed from COM4.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Media Boy Sources have told me the following:

Re: Freeview changes
 

Unless they have information regards COMs 4-6 changing configuration then I don't see where it would go, unless it was streamed.

Re: Freeview changes
 

-Ideal World is now on That's TV Gold from 9am to 1pm when
-TJC is being shown on That's TV Local from 9am to 1pm.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Media Boy EXCLUSIVE: Media Boy Sources confirmed that Discovery to axe linear channels by 2023.

https://mediaboyblog.blogspot.com/20...confirmed.html

Re: Freeview changes
 

SDN has a UK DTT capacity opportunity for Broadcasters in summer 2020.

https://sdn.co.uk/

Re: Freeview changes
 

You've got to wonder why they still have that written on their front page given it's 2021.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Oops I did forgot it was 2021. You know with all the Summer sports events being called "Euro" 2020.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Easily done. :)

Re: Freeview changes
 

RXTV is reporting that Now 70s being UK Wide will end on August 25th.

---------- Post added at 15:51 ---------- Previous post was at 15:49 ----------

Arqiva ‘preparing to sell UK operations’

https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/a...-uk-operations

Re: Freeview changes
 

Does anyone still use Freeview ?

I stopped receiving any kind of TV through an aerial about 20 years ago.

I have Sky, Virgin (atm), Freesat & Internet.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Yes, 18 million homes.

https://www.freeview.co.uk/about-freeview

Re: Freeview changes
 

That includes me. I record everything from the HD terrestrials through my aerial/Blu Ray recorder. It helps with the limited capacity on the Virgin boxes.

Re: Freeview changes
 

and here was me thinking you had hordes of capture cards and a massive raid array and recording all the streams you can get online. You using an aerial has totally shattered my illusions

Re: Freeview changes
 

Yes, I've got it setup as a backup on the main TV, the main source on several secondary TVs, and as an extra tuner for recording in other instances.
I'd love to see both your watching and recording itineraries for an average day one of these days Old Boy. I'm genuinely fascinated how it all works, and still having a full Virgin box.

And you're lucky to have a bluray recorder, they're not easy to get hold of these days, and were always expensive. HDD and DVD Recorders are hard enough to find.

Re: Freeview changes
 

A lot of people use it for secondary TV's. I also imagine that older people, people who don't watch much TV and the less affluent use it for their main TV too.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I have the streamers, too! I'm not a one-trick pony, you know. :D

Re: Freeview changes
 

I use it on the TV in the kitchen since we changed over to a V6 which didn't have a SCART output to drive the modulator. The external antenna had disintegrated but a high gain loft antenna pulls in enough signal.

The main TV is tuned in and has the HD tuner but I usually use the V6 HDMI.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Government confirm that the existing licences will be rolled over:

News Release

Re: Freeview changes
 

Interesting note at the end of that release…

Re: Freeview changes
 

Don't tell him about your back-up VCR. :D

Re: Freeview changes
 

Which brings us nicely to 2035! :D

---------- Post added at 19:44 ---------- Previous post was at 19:42 ----------

I had about 55 VCR tapes back in the day. I was rather glad to be able to get rid of all that clutter when digital came along.

Re: Freeview changes
 

When will the old 5Select slot be reuse on COM4 on Freeview?

---------- Post added at 19:51 ---------- Previous post was at 19:49 ----------

NOW 80s will take over NOW 70's UK Wide slot from August 25th.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I wonder if ITV were waiting for the government decision on the Freeview multiplex licenses before following through on the old 5Select slot.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I thought that, but then I thought it could be read as 5 years notice could be given in 2025 to close it in 2030.

Re: Freeview changes
 

It does mean the latter. They were given authorisation to extend multiplexes to 2034. If they couldn't enact the 5 years notice until 2030 then there would be no point as the license would expire in less than 5 years from then.

The licenses could be extended once again if there is a need, 2034 isn't a definite end point for DTT.

Plenty time to know if they are going down the 5G Broadcast route, keeping the status quo, or something else entirely.

Maybe it'll just be 1 multiplex of the legacy technology from 2034, it doesn't need to be all or nothing. So many possibilities.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Pardon my ignorance, but why does that even matter?

Re: Freeview changes
 

Because some people only have Freeview and would like to know if they'd get an extra channel.

Some only have DVB-T equipment, so have lost a channel after it moved and would be interested if they'd get another.

It would matter to ITV, SDN is a lucrative business for them, and there is space that isn't paying currently.

It matters to many. Illustrated by the channel losing 28% of its audience on all platforms by this one change on 1 platform.

There have been complaints along the lines of "my dad's favourite channel is 5Select and now it's not showing, why is this?" on Social Media.

Just because we don't watch doesn't mean it's not important to others, including the vulnerable.

Re: Freeview changes
 

For my sins, I confess to still hoarding a VCR and a few pre-recorded tapes. Whether anything still works is another matter!

Re: Freeview changes
 

Some channels to rebrand soon on Freeview:

September:
26th: GREAT! movies classic to be known as GREAT! movies christmas. (UK Wide)
26th: GREAT! movies classic +1 to be known as GREAT! movies christmas +1. ( Manchester area only)

November:
20th: NOW 80s to be known as NOW Christmas. (Only on Freeview HD)

December:
27th: Now Christmas to be rebrand back to NOW 80s. (Only on Freeview HD)

January 2022:
4th: GREAT! movies christmas to be rebrand back to GREAT! movies classic. (UK Wide)
4th: GREAT! movies christmas +1 to be rebrand back to GREAT! movies classic +1. ( Manchester area only)

Re: Freeview changes
 

UK Wide is a big stretch, they are only available (on Freeview) in areas with Local TV multiplexes.

And COM7 has a much lower geographic availability than BBCB/PSB3 so it's not as simple has having Freeview HD capable equipment.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Tennis Final to be shown on Channel 4 TONIGHT.

https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/channel-4-...al-from-amazon

Re: Freeview changes
 

With October starting on Friday. Will the old 5Select slot be reuse on COM4 on Freeview this week?

Re: Freeview changes
 

What's your thinking? Why is October important? Goldilocks Zone for launching coming up?

Re: Freeview changes
 

Freeview sometime launch new channels at the start of the month.

Re: Freeview changes
 

There's a distinct lack of urgency to filling up DTT at the moment. There has been at least one stream available for quite some time.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Some Local TV Channels to close on Sky from Wednesday.


https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-...1/td-p/3776205

That time of posting we have seen no idea on what will happen for Freeview Viewers.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Umm... This is for Freeview changes, not Sky.

Re: Freeview changes
 

The way Sky has put it (Local name) TV will close on Wednesday on Sky Channels 117/134.

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-...1/td-p/3776205

With owners Local TV launch an UK Wide Channel on Sky Channel 195.

So Freeview viewers in the areas listed in my early post may no longer have an local programmes but an UK Wide channel.

Re: Freeview changes
 

THREE MONTHS later and ITV/SDN still to launch something new on 5Select old slot.

---------- Post added at 22:31 ---------- Previous post was at 22:28 ----------

Also I have work out that BBC A has got an free 24 hour slot in Wales - so can more S4C onto it slot if they wanted to.

*Slot is use in Scotland for BBC Scotland SD Channel.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I've been saying that should happen long before Covid, since they adjusted the rest of the UK to match the make-up/configuration of the Scottish BBC-A multiplex even though it wasn't earmarked for use. The space has been there for a long time. I've previously suggested that since there is no obvious use in England, TV-wise, they might up the bitrates of some of the BBC Local radio stations e.g. stereo if they are currently mono.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I forgot about your past posts.

Sorry about that.:Peaceman:

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 ----------

Look like Virgin Media are picking up "Liverpool TV" using Freeview as Digital Bits Rate is reporting at 11.51am on October 21st Liverpool TV is showing "Judge Judy".

Re: Freeview changes
 

Is ITV/SDN set to use 5Select old slot???

https://forums.digitalspy.com/discus...mment_99818632

Re: Freeview changes
 

Interesting. Maybe ITV4+1 could get the ITV3+1 9pm until early partial slot if that ends up happening.

If ITV do end up using this space themselves, does that mean there weren't any buyers since they could've done it much sooner?

Re: Freeview changes
 

Maybe ITV3 +1 is an short term thing with COM7 set to close in the coming years.

Re: Freeview changes
 

:confused: ITV3+1 shares with CITV on COM4. If you mean it was going 24hr on COM7 I was under impression That's TV Gold took the last space there.
http://www.xhxf.uk/timeshares/

Or do you mean ITV3+1 takes the ex-5Select COM4 space temporarily until the COM7 closure forces one of those channels to take it or leave DTT?

Re: Freeview changes
 

I did mean your 2nd point.

Re: Freeview changes
 

More cuts to local news on that's TV

https://rxtvinfo.com/2021/further-cuts-at-thats-tv