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Old 16-08-2021, 01:33   #6
cheekyangus
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Re: ITV in battle to keep the COM4 Freeview multiplex license

The contracts for at least som of the existing channels likely extends well past the license end on the presumption that it would be renewed and there wasn't likely to be much change in the foreseeable future. The channels themselves wouldn't want to enter into a contract with short term uncertainty, so although there will likely be a change of licensor clause, it will likely mean compensation if the new licensor decides to adopt a new strategy or technology resulting in the inability to provide space to continue their carriage.

There's unlikely to be more money to had through HD. If there had been any, market forces would've already set their provision on the main multiplexes in motion and the space made available on the Temporary HD-capable COM7 & the, now closed, COM8 would've been snapped up and the public eager to watch them.

As it is, COM7 is going to close mid 2022 at the latest as its spectrum is to be used for mobile phones, so there will be 5 less HD streams (COM7 is currently 5 HD and 7 SD streams).

Reconfiguration of PSB3 from the ground up to enable regionalisation of BBC1 HD and the main ITV in England should mean there's new encoders and more HD streams on that multiplex. Many expect the two BBC streams currently on COM7 to move to PSB3 in this scenario (so CBeebies HD/ BBC4 HD and BBC News HD).

Regional HD and those possible 2 extra streams might get some momentum into HD provision on Freeview again.
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