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E4 to launch on Freeview

(April 2005)

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MD
Mr D'Arcy
So what do you think will replace E4 on TUTV. The main channels have to include Living TV, Bravo, Paramount or UKTV Drama now its extended its hours? I doubt Sky One will be in the running.
NG
noggin Founding member
mromega posted:
I don't think Sky will be that worried about E4.

E4 & E4+1 have a combined share of 1.0% (0.7 - E4 + 0.3 - E4+1) compared to 2.4% (2.0 - Sky One + 0.3 - Sky Mix) for Sky One & Sky Mix, Hallmark has a 0.8% and 1.0 for Living TV, all of which show a better mix of programmes than E4 at present.

E4 is not as good as it used to be. There is too much "Fool around with..." & repeats of Friends. It's not far enough ahead of Channel 4 showings to be of much use, apart from time-shifting programmes such as Desperate Housewives & ER.


However you are slightly missing the point. Once E4 launches on Freeview it will be available in many more homes than Sky One, Hallmark, Living TV etc. as they are cable/satellite only, whereas E4 will be also available in Freeview homes.

As such it will have a larger pool of potential viewers - so may well increase its share compared to now.

Anecdotally - ITV2/3 and BBC Three/Four do better in Freeview households than they do in Sky/Cable households - as there is less competition.

I suspect E4 may do quite well - are they going FTA/FTV on satellite - or remaining a subscription channel? If they remain subscription on satellite (as ITV2 was for a long time) - then presumably they will still have that revenue supply as well?
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
Am I not right in saying that all E4 are doing on the Digital Terrestrial Television PLATFORM is moving from the Top Up TV PACKAGE which you pay for, to the Freeview PACKAGE which is free?

They'll stay on the same mux, using the same bandwidth, and simply not be encoded any more.

That, surely, means NOTHING will replace them, as they won't be giving up any space for anyone to take over.
MR
mromega
E4 will remain subscription on Sky Digital until at least 2008, however C4 are foregoing any subscription revenue, which Sky will be allowed to retain.
EH
Edward H
Nick Harvey posted:
That, surely, means NOTHING will replace them, as they won't be giving up any space for anyone to take over.


I'll think that they will stop extraview for the space. Its a fact that they are looking for a new channel to replace it if you belive DS users.
JB
JasonB
I couldnt care less what Sky and Cable thought about E4 moving to freeview, at least we're getting more decent programming. ABC1 is the only channel worth watching for entertainment on freeview at the moment so i'd be glad to see E4 arrive on freeview.
GM
nodnirG kraM
Nick Harvey posted:
Am I not right in saying that all E4 are doing on the Digital Terrestrial Television PLATFORM is moving from the Top Up TV PACKAGE which you pay for, to the Freeview PACKAGE which is free?

They'll stay on the same mux, using the same bandwidth, and simply not be encoded any more.

That, surely, means NOTHING will replace them, as they won't be giving up any space for anyone to take over.

Isn't E4 a time-restricted channel on TUTV though? So it's sharing bandwitdth with another channel during the day. So in order for it to run from 14.00-04.00 it would have to move somewhere else; perhaps then leaving room for a new channel to join Top Up TV.


Have Sky One completely poopooed the idea of being available on TUTV? Because if E4 will then be available for free in all the DTT-enabled households, it could counteract a little bit of E4's new audience share by being available on the cheaper Top Up TV.
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
nodnirG kraM posted:
Isn't E4 a time-restricted channel on TUTV though? So it's sharing bandwitdth with another channel during the day. So in order for it to run from 14.00-04.00 it would have to move somewhere else.

Aha!

You could well be right there, Mr Groundwave.
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
nodnirG kraM posted:

Have Sky One completely poopooed the idea of being available on TUTV? Because if E4 will then be available for free in all the DTT-enabled households, it could counteract a little bit of E4's new audience share by being available on the cheaper Top Up TV.


I can't imagine that Sky would allow somebody else, least of all Top Up TV to distribute their channel, and drive up DTT subscribers further. Surely that's commercial suicide.
BR
Brekkie
nodnirG kraM posted:
Nick Harvey posted:
Am I not right in saying that all E4 are doing on the Digital Terrestrial Television PLATFORM is moving from the Top Up TV PACKAGE which you pay for, to the Freeview PACKAGE which is free?

They'll stay on the same mux, using the same bandwidth, and simply not be encoded any more.

That, surely, means NOTHING will replace them, as they won't be giving up any space for anyone to take over.

Isn't E4 a time-restricted channel on TUTV though? So it's sharing bandwitdth with another channel during the day. So in order for it to run from 14.00-04.00 it would have to move somewhere else; perhaps then leaving room for a new channel to join Top Up TV.


No one knows for sure what will happen. However, as E4+1 is also joining at least one new stream will be added. I would imagine if the current restricted TUTV 4pm-4am stream was to be used E4+1 would be placed there, with E4 getting the 24 hour stream.
WA
want2know
Just to let you all know:

the channel will be on freeview from 27th May 2005

http://www.channel4.com/about_c4/viewing_E4/index.html

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