Freeview changes

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

So is the upshot of this that RT could continue here using only UK provided content?

Latest reports say "Ofcom launches 15 investigations into RT's programmes based on what was shown on the channel during a 14 hour period on Sunday"

https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/rt-ban-cha...minent-removal

---------- Post added at 13:18 ---------- Previous post was at 13:16 ----------

I feel something may happen on (Create and Craft old slot Channel 95) by Friday.

I see that Freeview has still to update a off air screen for Create and Craft new slot on channel 85 still (as of last night)

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

So is the upshot of this that RT could continue here using only UK provided content?

It’s up to Ofcom. I would think it unlikely they would see their role as being as proscriptive as designating which sources RT UK’s content may come from. I think that would be impossible to police, and in any case the problem with RT is not in the content of any individual programme but in its overall editorial policy. It is designed subtly to undermine UK national life and institutions in its daily choices around what to say and what not to say, and who to have say them. It surrounds that with a generous helping of regular news material by way of camouflage.

Ultimately Ofcom can dictate whether any broadcaster is permitted to spew forth its content across the airwaves within the UK. Freeview transmitters will not transmit its signals if Ofcom tells their owners not to. And the various UK companies providing EPG services can also be forbidden from doing so, as I understand that technically an EPG itself relies on a broadcast signal, which under UK law would require a broadcast licence.

[Media Boy UK]

Here is the up to date list of space on Freeview being unused.

24 hours slots:
-Old 5Select slot on COM4
-Old Create and Craft Extra slot on COM4

Part time slots:
-Smithsonian Channel slot on COM5 (11pm to 3am only)
-Together TV slot on COM5 (12am to 3am only)
-Ideal World slot on COM6 (12am to 7am only)
-Jewellery Maker/PBS slot on COM5 (5am to 8am only)

All information right as of March 1st.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Chris

It’s up to Ofcom. I would think it unlikely they would see their role as being as proscriptive as designating which sources RT UK’s content may come from. I think that would be impossible to police, and in any case the problem with RT is not in the content of any individual programme but in its overall editorial policy. It is designed subtly to undermine UK national life and institutions in its daily choices around what to say and what not to say, and who to have say them. It surrounds that with a generous helping of regular news material by way of camouflage.

Ultimately Ofcom can dictate whether any broadcaster is permitted to spew forth its content across the airwaves within the UK. Freeview transmitters will not transmit its signals if Ofcom tells their owners not to. And the various UK companies providing EPG services can also be forbidden from doing so, as I understand that technically an EPG itself relies on a broadcast signal, which under UK law would require a broadcast licence.

I was thinking that if Ofcom doesn't ban RT, but that their feed is cut off from Europe because of the EU ban, that they might still lawfully be able to broadcast to the UK from Millbank using locally produced content.

It would be foolish UK staff that would attempt to do this from London though.

If RT was banned by Ofcom, it would have to be removed from all EPG's, but satellite users would still be able to tune it in manually. However, an EU ban would prevent it from being uplinked in the first place.

I've since been told by professional broadcast staff that (for various reasons) it's very unlikely that Millbank has a facility to uplink RT.

If the EU ban results in the loss of the satellite feed and, assuming that this is where Freeview get their feed from it'll go off air in the UK altogether by default.

As we won't have officially banned it, I'm hoping that Putin may allow our journalists to remain in Russia. There again...

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I was thinking that if Ofcom doesn't ban RT, but that their feed is cut off from Europe because of the EU ban, that they might still lawfully be able to broadcast to the UK from Millbank using locally produced content.

It would be foolish UK staff that would attempt to do this from London though.

If RT was banned by Ofcom, it would have to be removed from all EPG's, but satellite users would still be able to tune it in manually. However, an EU ban would prevent it from being uplinked in the first place.

I've since been told by professional broadcast staff that (for various reasons) it's very unlikely that Millbank has a facility to uplink RT.

If the EU ban results in the loss of the satellite feed and, assuming that this is where Freeview get their feed from it'll go off air in the UK altogether by default.

As we won't have officially banned it, I'm hoping that Putin may allow our journalists to remain in Russia. There again...

The last time Virgin Media and Sky has to remove any Channels was back in early 2017 when OFCOM revokes ARY network UK licences - but ARY was say to be in liquidation when OFCOM done this

https://www.bizasialive.com/ofcom-re...k-uk-licences/

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I was thinking that if Ofcom doesn't ban RT, but that their feed is cut off from Europe because of the EU ban, that they might still lawfully be able to broadcast to the UK from Millbank using locally produced content.

It would be foolish UK staff that would attempt to do this from London though.

If RT was banned by Ofcom, it would have to be removed from all EPG's, but satellite users would still be able to tune it in manually. However, an EU ban would prevent it from being uplinked in the first place.

I've since been told by professional broadcast staff that (for various reasons) it's very unlikely that Millbank has a facility to uplink RT.

If the EU ban results in the loss of the satellite feed and, assuming that this is where Freeview get their feed from it'll go off air in the UK altogether by default.

As we won't have officially banned it, I'm hoping that Putin may allow our journalists to remain in Russia. There again...

Uplink and broadcast frequencies are all regulated. For RT to continue to be available in the UK it would have to be uplinked from a location outside of the UK or EU, and then broadcast from a sat with a UK footprint but on a frequency outside of UK or EU control. Then the end user has to be motivated to manually tune their receiver (and most consumers don’t have a clue how to do that).

If the regulator decides to pull it, it’s as good as dead.

[Media Boy UK]

BREAKING NEWS:

Nadine Dorries MP has just post a following on Twitter:

Shortly, the French satellite which broadcasts Russia Today (RT) in both the EU and UK will be switched off. This means RT will no longer be available via Sky.

https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/st...57648774320132

---------- Post added at 20:58 ---------- Previous post was at 20:44 ----------

Sky receives its RT broadcast from a satellite operator based in Luxembourg, which will be instructed to remove the news channel formerly known as Russia Today, as soon as the European Union sanctions are officially approved on Tuesday night.

RT’s broadcast slot on Sky will initially be blank but the channel will eventually be removed from its programme guide altogether. Representatives of British broadcast platforms Freesat and Freeview were initially unclear as to whether the decision to block the satellite signal would also result in RT vanishing from their platforms.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...ithin-24-hours

Vive la France

[nodrogd]

It is likely that Astra will have been asked to terminate RTs transponder leases. That will certainly close them down on satellite.

The Russian feed goes through the editing suite at Millbank, from where Arqiva distributes it to Chilworth (Sky/Freesat) & through the DTT backbone to the Freeview transmitter sites.

[RichardCoulter]

Nadine Dorries says that it will be done by 'switching off a French satellite'

No idea what this means, but there again, Dorries isn't known for her knowledge of broadcasting issues!

[Carth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Nadine Dorries says that it will be done by 'switching off a French satellite'

No idea what this means, but there again, Dorries isn't known for her knowledge of broadcasting issues!

She's already turned 3/4 of Britain off, a simple satellite should be no problem

[Media Boy UK]

RT and RT HD may not get axe today on Freeview HD.

https://twitter.com/MediaBoyUK/statu...31532761194499

Source: Mike aka A516Digital.

[RichardCoulter]

Reports that RT has just been removed from all UK TV platforms, including Freeview

[nodrogd]

Freesat is off as well with no manual tuning. All indications are that it’s Arqiva that has pulled the plug, although I might get this confirmed in a while.

[GrimUpNorth]

Well the shop's still up and running.