CW
Charlie Wells
Moderator
More information about ITV4 and the launch night on Media Guardian...
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1595190,00.html
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1595190,00.html
Quote:
Chelsea lined up for ITV4 launch night
Jason Deans, broadcasting editor
Wednesday October 19, 2005
ITV is giving its new digital channel, ITV4, every chance of a successful launch night on November 1 by broadcasting Chelsea's Champions League clash with Real Betis.
The channel will be broadcasting two other live sporting events in its first week on air as it tries to establish itself as a new channel pandering to the tastes of light-viewing young males.
Olympic boxing silver medallist Amir Khan's next professional fight, against WBO world featherweight champion Scott Harrison, will also be on live ITV4 on Saturday, November 5.
And on Thursday, November 3, ITV4 has secured the rights to Middlesbrough's second-leg Uefa cup tie against Dnipro.
ITV's second live Tuesday night Champions League match will be switching from ITV2 to ITV4 for its launch on November 1. The biggest match of each round featuring an English side will remain on ITV1.
ITV4 has also secured the rights to Middlesbrough's Uefa Cup matches on November 24 and December 15.
Live Champions League and Uefa Cup fixtures regularly attract audiences approaching 1 million viewers - and sometimes higher - on ITV2, and the broadcaster will hope ITV4 can emulate these figures.
As well as some live sport, the ITV4 schedule will feature US imports including the Kojak remake, starring Ving Rhames.
Jason Deans, broadcasting editor
Wednesday October 19, 2005
ITV is giving its new digital channel, ITV4, every chance of a successful launch night on November 1 by broadcasting Chelsea's Champions League clash with Real Betis.
The channel will be broadcasting two other live sporting events in its first week on air as it tries to establish itself as a new channel pandering to the tastes of light-viewing young males.
Olympic boxing silver medallist Amir Khan's next professional fight, against WBO world featherweight champion Scott Harrison, will also be on live ITV4 on Saturday, November 5.
And on Thursday, November 3, ITV4 has secured the rights to Middlesbrough's second-leg Uefa cup tie against Dnipro.
ITV's second live Tuesday night Champions League match will be switching from ITV2 to ITV4 for its launch on November 1. The biggest match of each round featuring an English side will remain on ITV1.
ITV4 has also secured the rights to Middlesbrough's Uefa Cup matches on November 24 and December 15.
Live Champions League and Uefa Cup fixtures regularly attract audiences approaching 1 million viewers - and sometimes higher - on ITV2, and the broadcaster will hope ITV4 can emulate these figures.
As well as some live sport, the ITV4 schedule will feature US imports including the Kojak remake, starring Ving Rhames.
SP
It looks like tests for ITV4 have now started on Sky.
On the 10758V transponder, there's currently a channel labelled 10072, which is carrying ITV4 EPG test data on the search and scan banner. The channel itself however, is showing Men and Motors. (Read into that what you will!
)
I'm getting a distinct deja vu feeling from the ITV3 launch, when ITV denied that it'd be launching on Sky, despite carrying out test transmissions... and we all know what happened at the 11th hour.
On the 10758V transponder, there's currently a channel labelled 10072, which is carrying ITV4 EPG test data on the search and scan banner. The channel itself however, is showing Men and Motors. (Read into that what you will!
)
I'm getting a distinct deja vu feeling from the ITV3 launch, when ITV denied that it'd be launching on Sky, despite carrying out test transmissions... and we all know what happened at the 11th hour.
MD
It may be more likely they will ditch the ITV News Channel rather than replace M&M
Spencer For Hire posted:
It looks like tests for ITV4 have now started on Sky.
On the 10758V transponder, there's currently a channel labelled 10072, which is carrying ITV4 EPG test data on the search and scan banner. The channel itself however, is showing Men and Motors. (Read into that what you will! )
I'm getting a distinct deja vu feeling from the ITV3 launch, when ITV denied that it'd be launching on Sky, despite carrying out test transmissions... and we all know what happened at the 11th hour.
On the 10758V transponder, there's currently a channel labelled 10072, which is carrying ITV4 EPG test data on the search and scan banner. The channel itself however, is showing Men and Motors. (Read into that what you will!
)
I'm getting a distinct deja vu feeling from the ITV3 launch, when ITV denied that it'd be launching on Sky, despite carrying out test transmissions... and we all know what happened at the 11th hour.
It may be more likely they will ditch the ITV News Channel rather than replace M&M
AN
It's all very well saying they'll scrap the NC and keep Men & Motors, but once ITV4 starts:
- they'll put all effort into ITV4, at the expense of M&M
- M&M will lose viewers
- M&M will suddenly become unprofitable
In my opinion, it makes a lot more sense to replace M&M with ITV4, just as they did with ITV3 and Plus. Let's not forget, the NC is only rumoured to be disappearing from Freeview, it's not like it's being scrapped altogether. They've put a lot of money into the NC in recent times, they're not just going to pour all that down the drain by practically halving its audience. And let's not forget the recent EPG reshuffle on Freeview - they've shoved all the entertainment channels closer together, yet M&M is still stuck at the end away from them all. Not exactly what you'd do with such a profitable channel that you planned to keep.
- they'll put all effort into ITV4, at the expense of M&M
- M&M will lose viewers
- M&M will suddenly become unprofitable
In my opinion, it makes a lot more sense to replace M&M with ITV4, just as they did with ITV3 and Plus. Let's not forget, the NC is only rumoured to be disappearing from Freeview, it's not like it's being scrapped altogether. They've put a lot of money into the NC in recent times, they're not just going to pour all that down the drain by practically halving its audience. And let's not forget the recent EPG reshuffle on Freeview - they've shoved all the entertainment channels closer together, yet M&M is still stuck at the end away from them all. Not exactly what you'd do with such a profitable channel that you planned to keep.
BR
Agree. While I watched M&M a bit at launch, after a while it's just the same programmes repeated time and time again - like most Freeview channels - and as someone else said, ITV4 will get the pick of the programming.
I think the most likely thing is that ITV will pull the same trick with Men and Motors as they did with Plus, also doing it on Freeview, but I think ITV4 may join ITV1-3 on Mux 2, with ITV News being moved to Mux D.
martinDTanderson posted:
Replacing M&M is the obvious answer, no point keeping a rival channel going along side. To be honest I never watch M&M so I wouldnt miss it.
Agree. While I watched M&M a bit at launch, after a while it's just the same programmes repeated time and time again - like most Freeview channels - and as someone else said, ITV4 will get the pick of the programming.
I think the most likely thing is that ITV will pull the same trick with Men and Motors as they did with Plus, also doing it on Freeview, but I think ITV4 may join ITV1-3 on Mux 2, with ITV News being moved to Mux D.
CW
Agree. While I watched M&M a bit at launch, after a while it's just the same programmes repeated time and time again - like most Freeview channels - and as someone else said, ITV4 will get the pick of the programming.
I think the most likely thing is that ITV will pull the same trick with Men and Motors as they did with Plus, also doing it on Freeview, but I think ITV4 may join ITV1-3 on Mux 2, with ITV News being moved to Mux D.
Same here, I rather expect ITV to do a sudden last minute change. Whilst it is also possible in the short term ITV4 could time-share with the News Channel on Freeview (i.e. ITV N.C. 6am-6pm, ITV4 6pm-6am) I think that long term Men and Motors will be axed. Firstly it does not have the 'ITV' prefix to the channel name, secondly Men and Motors content would be similar to ITV4s content and audience.
Incidentally as mentioned in the ITV rebrand thread www.itv.com now has a link to ITV4 in the top right corner linking to http://itv4.itv.com and this site has been altered today.
Charlie Wells
Moderator
Brekkie Boy posted:
martinDTanderson posted:
Replacing M&M is the obvious answer, no point keeping a rival channel going along side. To be honest I never watch M&M so I wouldnt miss it.
Agree. While I watched M&M a bit at launch, after a while it's just the same programmes repeated time and time again - like most Freeview channels - and as someone else said, ITV4 will get the pick of the programming.
I think the most likely thing is that ITV will pull the same trick with Men and Motors as they did with Plus, also doing it on Freeview, but I think ITV4 may join ITV1-3 on Mux 2, with ITV News being moved to Mux D.
Same here, I rather expect ITV to do a sudden last minute change. Whilst it is also possible in the short term ITV4 could time-share with the News Channel on Freeview (i.e. ITV N.C. 6am-6pm, ITV4 6pm-6am) I think that long term Men and Motors will be axed. Firstly it does not have the 'ITV' prefix to the channel name, secondly Men and Motors content would be similar to ITV4s content and audience.
Incidentally as mentioned in the ITV rebrand thread www.itv.com now has a link to ITV4 in the top right corner linking to http://itv4.itv.com and this site has been altered today.
ST
Seems it will launch on November 1st on NTL and Freeview only. Launch on Sky is November 7th. No news on when Telewest will take it.
Juicy Joe posted:
Isn't ITV4 going to be on Sky then? I've only just realised this. The website says nothing about Sky - nor do the trailers... 