Cable Forum - HD S4C HD

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- - HD : S4C HD (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33703081)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 35879544)

Its on Sky & FREESAT, which S4C pays for in one transaction direct with the satellite operator, plus a nominal charge to appear in the EPG's of the platforms mentioned.

S4C HD is not available on Freeview due to capacity restrictions (the slot it would use on PSB3 is allocated to Channel 4 HD in the whole of the UK).

More than likely its not on VM due to cost. As mentioned before, VM coverage in Wales is very limited for what S4C would have to pay out to add HD to the platform.

I agree, as I don't think that it's for technical or capacity reasons. The feed was present off the EPG all the time when it wasn't made available for the football matches.

I'm surprised that it would cost VM anything to carry it though, aren't all PSB channels carried on a cost neautral basis??

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 35879544)

I see, thanks. It's extremely frustrating though that it's on SKY and not VirginMedia. I pay a hefty sum each month for my tv package, yet Freesat users get this channel and I don't. I tweeted them and in fairness they did respond saying they are looking into the possibility of it coming to VM.

S4C's always been a bit poor at aiming its HD services on to the right platforms.

For example, in 2010 they had their HD service on freeview only. The problem was that S4C's main audience is in rural North, Mid and West Wales, where freeview (let alone HD) was near enough impossible to receive at the time, so many were using satellite instead. It didn't last that long.

Now however freeview HD is more widespread and covers all areas where freeview is available, but S4C aren't on it yet. It would have made much more sense to reverse the plan and roll out on satellite first, and then freeview.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35879839)

I agree, as I don't think that it's for technical or capacity reasons. The feed was present off the EPG all the time when it wasn't made available for the football matches.

I'm surprised that it would cost VM anything to carry it though, aren't all PSB channels carried on a cost neautral basis??

While the powers that be have seen fit to offer S4C SD PSB capacity on Freeview (which they inheritied from analogue), this was never extended to HD coverage & was never included in network planning. So while you could say the SD version of the channel is classed as a PSB channel, if OFCOM doesn't treat the HD version as such, then no-one else is obliged to either.

---------- Post added at 23:11 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhyds (Post 35879922)

I think its more a case of can't than won't. The only HD capacity available on Freeview ATM is on Mux 7 & 8. Only 3 transmitters in the whole of Wales have channel allocations for these muxes due to ITU restrictions imposed to protect Ireland's "airspace". These only cover SE & NE Wales. Mux 7 & 8 are also UK wide licences, so would require S4C to provide its HD service to the whole of the UK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilincarnate (Post 35842790)

Eurotrash is coming back

That's a bonus.............:rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrogd (Post 35880214)

Thanks, I didn't realise that Ofcom were still not treating the HD variants as PSB channels.

This will have to change in time as the PSB SD channels will be closed at some point on Freeview at least, by 2020 is when this is expected to happen.

Perhaps S4C HD will return full time to VM when it's classed as a PSB channel that VM don't have to pay for??