How exactly does the Channel Television system wor

Do Channel get a share of the takings from Meridian's advertising feed which they rebroadcast?

I've noticed that they do not always show the complete ad break. Is this due to some advertisers paying an extra premium to broadcast on Channel, or do Channel just show the ads to fill time?

The reason I ask is because of the new fibre feed Channel are getting from London. Which ads will they then show? London's? None at all? Will Channel's output consist of loads of trailers, a couple of ads and lots of 'back soon' messages?

I'm confused. Anyone care to elaborate?

Doesn't answer your question, but...

CHANNEL TELEVISION GOES ONTO DIGITAL SATELLITE
AND THERE'LL BE BETTER RECEPTION FOR ALL VIEWERS

Channel Television is now available on digital satellite. And the quality of reception for all viewers will improve.

Months of planning and negotiations which have included the re-engineering of Channel Television's link to the ITV network came to a successful conclusion on Wednesday 21st November when the Channel Island's service began being broadcast via satellite. Subscribers to Sky Digital will find Channel Television on channel 103 on the Sky On-screen Guide.

The move has been hailed as a landmark in Channel Television's history which spans nearly forty years. 'It's been a lot of hard work but all well worthwhile. This is an exciting addition to our existing service,' said managing director Michael Lucas. 'It will allow us to include those people who use digital satellite among our viewers. 54% of households in the islands have access to digital satellite – that's higher than anywhere else in the British Isles. Our research shows that some of those viewers weren't coming out of the digital platform to view Channel Television which until now has only been available in the analogue format.'

There's also good news for viewers watching Channel Television via their terrestrial aerials – their reception should be better than it's ever been with less 'weather related' interference to Channel Television's pictures in people's homes.

'ITV is re-engineering the way we receive the networked service from the UK', said Mr. Lucas. 'Currently it is a 'through the air feed' which is susceptible to interference when there is high pressure. Soon, our ITV pictures will be brought to us by a network of underground and under sea fibre optic cables. So with no weather interference the signal we provide to the transmitter will be much stronger than the one we are currently able to provide'.

For further information please contact :
Michael Lucas, Managing Director Tel : 01534 816816


(Edited by Whataday at 1:45 am on Dec. 30, 2001)

Well Jason I will try and explain.

At the moment Channel get there network feed from Meridian which means we get adverts for the Meridian South region. Some adverts are for products or companies that don't exsist here in the Channel Islands like Tesco and Sainsbury. A good example is we don't receive any National Lottery adverts as we don't do the National Lottry here.

Channel have a tough job doing adverts as when Meridian shows a Courts advert Channel has to play the Channel Islands version, excatley the same advert but a different name as Courts aren't know as Courts here. We are always getting adverts for shopping centres in Southampton and Portsmouth so Channel do not always reply Channel Islands adverts over the Meridian ones.

This may change once Channel get a direct feed but I have heard that this may be rumour and Channel will keep the exsisting Meridian feed but it will come via fibre optic cable under the Channel while at the mo it is received through the air and is subject to consist bad quality due to weather.

Sorry this is long winded but hopefully you will understand.

All the best for the new year

Dave - Jersey

I understood that Channel would be receiving the programmes, not a feed as such.

But then that may be just how I read it

Thanks for the reply.

One thing that has always bothered me though, is why Meridian don't just tell Channel which ads to play and let them do them themselves, with Meridian as a backup if needs be. This is done with the trailers (which are definitely played from Channel and not Meridian). It would look far more professional.

I suspect that may be the solution they take when the fibre optic is in place; if the rumours about Meridian's presentation moving to Leeds in the future turn out to be true it'll be one more obstacle to overcome for Channel otherwise (learning to converse with a whole new team!). The only issue of course is what happens after 12.30am, where will the ads come from then?

AFAIK Channel receive 1% of Meridian's ad revenue in return for broadcasting Meridian's ads in the Channel Islands.

In the days of TVS ISTR that the overnight service (when Channel Pres was not operational) ran trails for daytime local progs (which Channel opted out of) with 'Not available in the Channel Islands'!

I think it very unlikely that Channel would wish to upgrade to full advert playout - the requirement to play-in adverts would massively increase the requirements of their pres area - which would cost a significant amount.

Suspect that the fibre is just used to get a cleaner feed of Meridian South than the old off-air feed, and to get the Channel feed back to England for uplink by NTL onto digital satellite.

Whether a dirty feed of Meridian comes from Southampton or Leeds doesn't matter, it'll still be the same channel with the same ads.

A bit OT but when I watch channel presentation the c/a is very precise with timing

e.g. 'At 4 and a half minutes past ten it's the ITV News but now on Channel Cold Feet'.

I believe that Channel continuity being fiercely accurate with timings is a bit of a historical thing - on one of the TV history sites they have a recording from the 60s or 70s - and all the programmes are given accurate (rather than billed) times.

(Then again - I remember when the Radio Times published programmes with 27 and 58 minute start times... But then I can remember a time before Channel Four...)

Yes, but the point is that there is very close contact kept between Southampton and Channel; a new channel doing things would lead to a lot of problems potentially, especially as YTV's system is fully-automated (and hence a lot of the timing details are unknown to be exact by the t/c) and Leeds have a past record of being crap when it comes to giving info to other companies about when to opt out of the feed!!

My contact at Channel gives me the impression that Meridian is staying put especially as Channel Television depend on Meridian for the entire network feed. The fibre optic cable that I think Channel are now using will purely improve picture quality to the Islands. A sudden difference is on Teletext. When you pressed 600 you got Meridian Text but now you get Channel Television contacts page !.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year

Dave - Jersey