C4 is to launch C4+1 - a time shifted version of C4 - in August on "all digital platforms", which presumably means the end for either E4+1 or Film4+1 on Freeview.
Problem with a timeshifted channel is it creates an element of audience erosion away from the main channel.
It can only result in a reduction in the "headline" audience figures for the main Channel 4, which still seems to be the yardstick for the success of a channel these days.
Also, much of their content is timeshifted on the various other channels anyway.
It strikes me as odd that C4 are finally to timeshift their main channel at a time when timeshifted channels are being outdated by on-demand. With Channel 4 having a large presence on Virgin and online for the on-demand market what is the point of having another channel which could potentially reduce their audience, as SE suggests.
Conversely, perhaps this is a reaction TO on-demand. When you watch OD, there are no adverts, therefore no revenue. Perhaps the hope is that people will use +1 rather than OD and therefore they get their £££ afterall.
:-(
A former member
well lets see if this going on Freeview then it will mine there up to something!
Re: Headline figures - they'll just incorporate C4+1 into the main channel - I think they do that with E4+1 anyway.
On Demand though and especially DTT PVRs are still in their infancy and certainly not widely used yet.
I think a better solution might be on Freeview anyway is to scrap the two +1 channels and have them both as interactive channels. This gives them the flexibility to provide things such as Big Brother live - and then instead of +1 channels they could provide limited "multi-start" services for certain shows and films.