TV Home Forum

BBC Channel Number Changes

From 31 March on Sky/Freesat (and Freeview for Alba only) (March 2016)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
IR
Ian R
Hopefully this is okay in its own thread - I couldn't seem to find a relevant catch-all thread. Some upcoming changes reported at http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/bbc-alba-to-move-up-the-channel-listings-1-4082278

Quote:
...with the new EPG slots for BBC ALBA being as follows:

· Sky 142 - from 31st March (old channel number 143)

· Freesat 109 - from 31st March (old channel number 110)

· Freeview 7 - from 5th April (old channel number 8.)


Quote:
Other BBC channels will also be moving slots with BBC One HD moving to Sky 115 and Freesat 106, BBC Two moving to Sky 141 and Freesat 108 and BBC Four moving to Sky 143 and Freesat 110.
DV
dvboy
It's to coincide with the closure of BBC Three which will be removed from the EPGs on 31 March.
CR
Critique
So BBC Four is moving down the EPG quite considerably then? Seems an odd move.
JA
Jake
Critique posted:
So BBC Four is moving down the EPG quite considerably then? Seems an odd move.

Are you confusing BBC Four with BBC Four HD?
CR
Critique
Jake posted:
Critique posted:
So BBC Four is moving down the EPG quite considerably then? Seems an odd move.

Are you confusing BBC Four with BBC Four HD?


Oh is it the HD channel? The article refers specifically the movement of BBC One HD and BBC Two HD, but then just says BBC Four is moving, which is what confused me.
BR
Brekkie
Still no news then on what's happening with the spare capacity after 9pm once BBC3 stops broadcasting for good.

I assume BBC4 HD is a channel switch scenario so people get the HD channel on the lower EPG number anyway. The second is effectively BBC4 SD for HD viewers.

On the surface it also seems stupid splitting BBC1 HD and BBC2 HD on the EPG, but I guess actually they're not together for anyone either as viewers in England get BBC2 HD on 102 (I believe) while those in the nations get BBC1 HD on 101. The others are in SD as the BBC1 regions and BBC2 nations aren't currently in HD.
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
BBC Four is currently on Sky 116/211.

The movement of BBC One HD to 115 and BBC Two SD to 141 and BBC Four to 143 suggests the BBC are not keeping current EPG slots 116 (current BBC Four) and 210 (current BBC Three) after BBC Three closes.

I'd have thought Sky 116 would have been kept at least.
BR
Brekkie
It will be. BBC4 isn't moving, just the SD version for HD viewers.
IS
Inspector Sands
Brekkie posted:
Still no news then on what's happening with the spare capacity after 9pm once BBC3 stops broadcasting for good.

I don't think anything is happening with it, just a slate/barker for CBBC I assume
TC
TCOTV
I am surprised by this. I always thought BBC 4 with a new name would move up to the BBC 3 slot. I guess local TV (like london live) will stay where it is? If so then my guess is if S4/C which is mostly owned by the BBC now? moves up like ALBA then it kind of protects the channel place hold for the BBC. In a long winded way. Also then Local TV 2 could moves up. Example on FreeView from 23 to 8. If this happens then I predict Channel 23 will become a UKTV channel.
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
TCOTV posted:
I am surprised by this. I always thought BBC 4 with a new name would move up to the BBC 3 slot. I guess local TV (like london live) will stay where it is? If so then my guess is if S4/C which is mostly owned by the BBC now? moves up like ALBA then it kind of protects the channel place hold for the BBC. In a long winded way. Also then Local TV 2 could moves up. Example on FreeView from 23 to 8. If this happens then I predict Channel 23 will become a UKTV channel.


There was a consultation about that for Freeview purposes and the result was to leave things as they were and keep Channel 8 as the local TV channel in England and Northern Ireland. In Wales Channel 4 is there and in Scotland is (for now) BBC Alba.

However the channel number changes were primarily for Sky and Freesat viewers.
BR
Brekkie
TCOTV posted:
I am surprised by this. I always thought BBC 4 with a new name would move up to the BBC 3 slot. I guess local TV (like london live) will stay where it is? If so then my guess is if S4/C which is mostly owned by the BBC now? moves up like ALBA then it kind of protects the channel place hold for the BBC. In a long winded way. Also then Local TV 2 could moves up. Example on FreeView from 23 to 8. If this happens then I predict Channel 23 will become a UKTV channel.

That is what is happening on Freeview - the BBC lose channel 7 which will become home to C4 in Wales (S4C is on 4) and BBC Alba, with local TV moving to channel 8. Local TV in England and NI had the option of staying on 8 or moving up to 7, with a few already confirmed as moving in April.

Remains to be seen how 23 is allocated - usually the nearest PSB can make a claim (C5 is on 21, ITV on 24).

Newer posts