Big manufacturers call for HD to be Free on Freeview.

**Stuart C** · 12-02-2007, 16:25

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five, along with manufacturers Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Alba, and Dixons owner DSGI have announced a campaign to get Ofcom to reserve bandwidth to enable Freeview to have Free to Air HD channels.

Sadly, Ofcom appears happy to allow broadcasters to use pay tv services on the platform at the moment, which, while I don't object to this as such, goes against the Ethos behind the platform.

Anyway, more details (and a link to the campaign site) at
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/02...w_hd_campaign/

Paul · 12-02-2007, 18:28

OFCOM regularly show just how little spine they have in many different areas. Maybe it's time that the regulator was regulated and made to actually pull it's weight?

dev · 12-02-2007, 18:40

all channels on freeview should be free otherwise its not exactly 'free' viewing is it

SnoopZ · 12-02-2007, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by dev

all channels on freeview should be free otherwise its not exactly 'free' viewing is it

Couldn't agree more, but if Sky get their way, Freeview could go down hill fast. As for Freeview getting HD channels, i hope that happens.

Cobbydaler · 12-02-2007, 18:49

Campaign site gives 'Service Unavailable'....

SnoopZ · 12-02-2007, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

Campaign site gives 'Service Unavailable'....

Ok here with no proxy.

12-02-2007, 21:14

Current viewers would have to buy a new STB. None of the current ones will do HD. I'd imagine it would be MPEG4 Pt10 blah blah, rather than MPEG2. MPEG2 HD would take up all of the 18Mb/s available on the QAM16 DTT muxes, MPEG4 would allow for two channels of good quality.
Whilst I can see why people don't want to have to pay Sky for HD, if they can get it for free, I'm quite surprised no-one has seen the irony of a number of TV manufacturers and a retail outlet backing a potential big earner for themselves. They will make far more money than Sky and they aren't looking after Joe Public, its sales driven.

**Stuart C** · 12-02-2007, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creative

They will make far more money than Sky and they aren't looking after Joe Public, its sales driven.

I'm not worried if people make money. That's what drives our economy. While I can accept that these people are in it for their own ends, I feel that the majority of freeview should be just that - free (from subscription anyway). Maybe the biggesgt names in broadcasting and manufacture will have some luck in getting Ofcom stop selling of the spectrum.

12-02-2007, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I'm not worried if people make money. That's what drives our economy. While I can accept that these people are in it for their own ends, I feel that the majority of freeview should be just that - free (from subscription anyway). Maybe the biggesgt names in broadcasting and manufacture will have some luck in getting Ofcom stop selling of the spectrum.

On the other hand the Spectrum isn't automatically 'Freeviews'. The DTT platform is not Freeviews. Ofcom also needs to keep this in mind.
Freeview consists of a number of free channels. A subscription channel is nothing to do with Freeview.

**Stuart C** · 12-02-2007, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creative

On the other hand the Spectrum isn't automatically 'Freeviews'. The DTT platform is not Freeviews. Ofcom also needs to keep this in mind.
Freeview consists of a number of free channels. A subscription channel is nothing to do with Freeview.

Sky are going to replace their current freeview channels with subscription channels.

13-02-2007, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Sky are going to replace their current freeview channels with subscription channels.

Sky are going to replace their current free offerings on DTT with more premium programming with a more advanced/efficient delivery mechanism and in order to pay for this are going to charge a subscription only to those who want to pay it. There is no obligation for anyone to subscribe.

**Stuart C** · 13-02-2007, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creative

Sky are going to replace their current free offerings on DTT with more premium programming with a more advanced/efficient delivery mechanism and in order to pay for this are going to charge a subscription only to those who want to pay it. There is no obligation for anyone to subscribe.

To go Hi Def, Freeview boxes will probably have to use MPEG 4 anyway.

I am not saying that there is an obligation for people to subscribe to this service, but the whole idea of Freeview was to provide a cheap alternative to subscription based systems. Removing free channels reduces the choice available to those unwilling/unable to afford subscriptions.