CBM pulled from Freeview

Why are people putting CBM down, before anyone's actually had a chance to see what it has to offer?
Ok, so the proposed programming for CBM doesn't really sound much cop. But, realistically, no-one
outside of CBM at least, has really seen exactly what they're planning to broadcast. Aside from the
part time simulcast of the Bloomberg business news channel.

What was it CBM were planning to show? Minority sports, and independent films wasn't it? That sort
of programming may not be to absolutely everyone's taste, but then look at Friendly TV for example.
The original proposals for Freindly TV's programming sounded pretty good before the channel
launched, but just look at the absolute pile of utter sh*te it has gradually become!

Until CBM has actually been on air for about week or so, I'm prepared to reserve judgement.

That's assuming CBM does launch at some point, in the not too distant future of course.

Tony Martin dancing around maybe?

It's already happeneing according to the DTG group website which says...

"Berlin and the surrounding Brandenburg regional state have successfully become the world's first DTT-only region.

The remaining analogue terrestrial transmissions were switched off at 0800 CET on 4 August, marking the final step of the digitalisation process arranged by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, in conjunction with commercial broadcasting groups RTL and Pro Sieben SAT.1, and Berlin's local media authority MABB.

According to MABB, the regional analogue switch-off is a great step ahead for German digital television. It adds that consumers have readily accepted the transition with more than 170,000 set-top boxes, retailing for as little as €99, having been sold so far - far more than expected."

[quote="EmleyMoor"]

Isn't the German situation specific to Berlin - where the broadcasting landscape has always been a bit more complex than the rest of Germany? (A legacy of East and West Berlin running different services etc.)

AIUI only Berlin has switched analogue off in preference to digital. They have a number of muxes running at about 14Mbs - (less than the UK because they run a narrower bandwith signal) These muxes carry the main commercial and state FTA public service channels (ARD, ZDF, RTLs, SAT1, Pro7 etc. as well as... BBC World!)

I believe that there are services across the rest of Germany - but they are not as advanced and not as close to reaching penetration levels that would allow for analogue switch off.

It is not just the City[state] of Berlin but also the State of Brandenburg which have gone fully DVB-t.

Full details can be found at

<http://www.dtg.org.UK/news/world/-berlin_switches_over.htm>

And for a very nice layout of the channels with technical details and tranmitter coverage --

<http://www.dtg.org.UK/news/news_gifs/berlin_final_dtt.jpg>

It is not strange how the German organisation responsible for the rollout of DVB-t can provide , clear concise technical information about the services, but Freeview struggle just to keep their web site up to date?

Furthermore notice that in comapison the the UK mess of some EPG positions being vacant, and further ones are supposed to be on the way, the German multiplexes are filled and ready to go.

This only reflects on the dismal administrative, business, and managerial qualities so prevalent in UK organisations, both in the public and commercial sectors.

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With regards to the mess over CBM, one only wishes that quality tv stations like THAMES were still around to fill the void. But the UK preference has been to kill quality tv like THAMES and replace it with dross like CARLTON, all in the name of making a fast buck.

http://www.dtg.org.UK/news/world/-berlin_switches_over.htm

http://www.dtg.org.UK/news/news_gifs/berlin_final_dtt.jpg

I see the links haven't converted... soon fix that!

Well I never!!! If it isn’t bloody CBM crawling out of the woodwork!! This is all we need!



As long as that White CBM coming soon thing does not appear again!

Well, TBH, I think it sounds alright. I'm well up for watching sports that get next to no coverage on tv. Badminton in particular is very watchable.

Looking forward to it, IF it happens.

Two sports channels (Setanta is supposed to be launching soon), or three if you count Sky Sports News, is a bit much though really. I believe it would be better if both CBM and Setanta realised this and maybe set up some sort of partnership so they can pool their sports rights and resources into developing one good, strong channel instead of two weaker ones.

Well, it depends what's on them. I doubt that even if Setanta and CBM got together, the channel would hardly be a ratings-puller what with Sky having any sport worth watching and Setanta having Scottish games on their premium service. Anyway, SSN is a channel for footie addicts and I doubt they'll be much of that on the two other sports channels.

Please note, that is one big "IF".

So what has changed at CBM? Supposedly last time they have a carriage deal in place and were about to launch. And then Crown Castle decided that they weren't good enough and dumped them.

Whatever the moral implications and whatever anyone thinks about CBM's original proposal, this seemed to be illegal. Indeed, CBM were seeking legal advise over the matter.

And now they're suddenly all pally again and CBM are trying to launch a new channel?

What caused this turn of events to come about?