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-   -   One or two new channels coming to Freesat. (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33701557)

RichardCoulter 09-10-2015 19:29

One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
PBS America is going FTA and joining Freesat imminently.

Talking Pictures had a meeting yesterday with Freesat with a view to joining the platform before Christmas.

Chris 09-10-2015 22:22

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
TBH all I really want from Freesat now is for ITV, who are supposed to part-own the thing, to put their HD channels on it. Honestly, in 2015, putting your HD variant behind Sky's paywall as if it's some next-big-thing innovation is just ridiculous.

And while we're at it, let's have FilmFour HD as well ...

RichardCoulter 21-11-2015 03:18

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
It's a disgrace that Channel 5 HD is behind a paywall, especially as a PSB.

steveh 21-11-2015 10:40

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Wasn't the Channel 5 decision made before Viacom bought it? Maybe they might think differently now.

Meanwhile on Freeview they seem to be having problems finding HD channels that want to take space on the new COM 8 multiplex. There's something not quite right with the economics of TV at the moment.

nodrogd 22-11-2015 11:12

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Well, CH5 had a slot reserved for them on the PSB3 Freeview mux & turned it down. Don't know if the possible move of BBC3 to online only will open that door to them again. If not COM8 & Freesat will be the only ones available.

RichardCoulter 10-12-2015 22:54

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
UKTV channels Yesterday, Drama and Really have now launched on Freesat.

Netflix is being added right now!

Talking Pictures is joining and hope to have the legalities sorted by the end of January 2016.

It is widely believed that Dave (SD) Channel 5 HD and Yesterday +1 will arrive shortly.

There have also been rumours that Quest and Possibly some HD variants of the PSB spin off channels may join too.

Chris 11-12-2015 11:20

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
UKTV's absence from Freesat has been a real puzzle. They have a stated aim to be universally available across the whole UK, however there are terrestrial relay transmitters the length and breadth of the country that don't, and will never, carry them. Yet it has taken them until the end of 2015, more than 8 years since Freesat was originally announced, to get their channels onto the platform that exists precisely because DTT is unable to provide universal coverage of all the channels that might want it.

I only hope Sky's shilling was worth it to them, for them to locked behind satellite encryption for so long.

RichardCoulter 11-12-2015 15:52

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
From what I can gather, the more modern satellites have been a major contributor to this change.

The older satellites covered a large area, but the new ones can have spot beams to only serve a certain area eg the UK.

If they hadn't of scrambled their signals prior to now, UKTV would have had to pay for pan European rights for their programmes.

I suppose they could have gone FTV as opposed to subscription, but they would have had to pay for encryption as opposed to getting a cut of the Sky subs.

rhyds 11-12-2015 16:14

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35812382)
UKTV's absence from Freesat has been a real puzzle. They have a stated aim to be universally available across the whole UK, however there are terrestrial relay transmitters the length and breadth of the country that don't, and will never, carry them. Yet it has taken them until the end of 2015, more than 8 years since Freesat was originally announced, to get their channels onto the platform that exists precisely because DTT is unable to provide universal coverage of all the channels that might want it.

I only hope Sky's shilling was worth it to them, for them to locked behind satellite encryption for so long.

Its even more puzzling when you consider the BBC own half of UKTV as well has being a major part of freesat.

Chris 11-12-2015 16:26

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35812421)
From what I can gather, the more modern satellites have been a major contributor to this change.

The older satellites covered a large area, but the new ones can have spot beams to only serve a certain area eg the UK.

If they hadn't of scrambled their signals prior to now, UKTV would have had to pay for pan European rights for their programmes.

This may be the case, but as the number of fully FTA channels on satellite has numbered in the hundreds since well before Freesat even came on the scene, you have to wonder why the prospect of rights payments was uniquely challenging to UKTV. They don't screen anything that might demand a premium for European broadcast, such as sport or movies.

RichardCoulter 11-12-2015 17:10

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rhyds (Post 35812427)
Its even more puzzling when you consider the BBC own half of UKTV as well has being a major part of freesat.

It's BBC Worldwide that own half of UKTV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35812433)
This may be the case, but as the number of fully FTA channels on satellite has numbered in the hundreds since well before Freesat even came on the scene, you have to wonder why the prospect of rights payments was uniquely challenging to UKTV. They don't screen anything that might demand a premium for European broadcast, such as sport or movies.

It will either be the additional costs of rights clearance, or a desire to not give away content for free to areas where the programming could otherwise be sold.

Chris 11-12-2015 19:46

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Maybe so, but the spot beam capability of Astra 2F has been available commercially for 3 years now ...

RichardCoulter 11-12-2015 21:18

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35812460)
Maybe so, but the spot beam capability of Astra 2F has been available commercially for 3 years now ...

I didn't know that. Maybe it was just a case of letting a carriage agreement run it's course??

It's odd that Dave (SD) hasn't been added to Freesat yet, perhaps there's some problem with Sky. I imagine that it will join at some point, with the HD variant remaining behind a paywall.

Chris 12-12-2015 23:10

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Yes, I think what has ultimately driven this has been an exclusivity deal with Sky, hence my earlier comment about UKTV taking their shilling.

The channels they have moved on to Freesat this week are a good start, and hopefully an indication that they actually are serious about the claim they started making some years ago now about them "taking over the world". We may yet get Dave on Freesat.

Now, if some of the broadcasters would only stop pretending that HD is somehow premium content, and get some of that out from behind Sky's paywall, things would really start to look bright and cheerful in the world of FTA satellite.

RichardCoulter 14-12-2015 21:25

Re: One or two new channels coming to Freesat.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35812615)
Yes, I think what has ultimately driven this has been an exclusivity deal with Sky, hence my earlier comment about UKTV taking their shilling.

The channels they have moved on to Freesat this week are a good start, and hopefully an indication that they actually are serious about the claim they started making some years ago now about them "taking over the world". We may yet get Dave on Freesat.

Now, if some of the broadcasters would only stop pretending that HD is somehow premium content, and get some of that out from behind Sky's paywall, things would really start to look bright and cheerful in the world of FTA satellite.

Yes, HD is becoming the norm as opposed to a premium offering- but this doesn't seem to be filtering down.

If you are on VM too, you can now access the UKTV HD channels over Christmas at no extra charge providing you are on M+ and above.


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