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ITV HD Regions on Freeview

(September 2020)

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BR
Brekkie
Glad to read that ITV are shutting down SD variations to launch HD services - this is long overdue and should have been done probably 4-5 years ago. Hopefully it's a small but significant step to HD becoming the norm for PSB broadcasting and encourages the BBC to make that necessary leap to end the ridiculous absence of BBC Regional News in England in HD.
MA
Markymark
I think you've answered your own question. If they weren't required to be on Sky then, I doubt they are now.


There are no PSB requirements for any PSB broadcaster to be on satellite . It's only if they are, they must receive the appropriate EPG prominence. Which is why 1998 to Nov 2001 Sky had to fill Ch103 with a holding banner


That's changed: Part 2, 1E of the regional Channel 3 and national Channel 4 and 5 licences:

Quote:
The Licensee shall ensure that the
(Channel 3/4/5 Service), is at all times offered as available (subject to the need to agree terms) to be broadcast by means of every satellite television service that is available for reception by members of the public in the whole or a part of the United Kingdom.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/tv-broadcast-licences/current-licensees

It doesn't stipulate how this is done, SD or HD. Until now, broadcasters have fulfilled the criteria through distributing their SD versions.


Are ITV's SD streams still 544 x 576? Odd that Ofcom would make D-Sat a must carry platform but not impose the same minimum technical standards requirements that DTT has?
MI
TheMike

There are no PSB requirements for any PSB broadcaster to be on satellite . It's only if they are, they must receive the appropriate EPG prominence. Which is why 1998 to Nov 2001 Sky had to fill Ch103 with a holding banner


That's changed: Part 2, 1E of the regional Channel 3 and national Channel 4 and 5 licences:

Quote:
The Licensee shall ensure that the
(Channel 3/4/5 Service), is at all times offered as available (subject to the need to agree terms) to be broadcast by means of every satellite television service that is available for reception by members of the public in the whole or a part of the United Kingdom.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/tv-broadcast-licences/current-licensees

It doesn't stipulate how this is done, SD or HD. Until now, broadcasters have fulfilled the criteria through distributing their SD versions.


Are ITV's SD streams still 544 x 576? Odd that Ofcom would make D-Sat a must carry platform but not impose the same minimum technical standards requirements that DTT has?

Both satellite and Freeview versions of ITV's main channel are 720x576.
MA
Markymark

That's changed: Part 2, 1E of the regional Channel 3 and national Channel 4 and 5 licences:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/tv-broadcast-licences/current-licensees

It doesn't stipulate how this is done, SD or HD. Until now, broadcasters have fulfilled the criteria through distributing their SD versions.


Are ITV's SD streams still 544 x 576? Odd that Ofcom would make D-Sat a must carry platform but not impose the same minimum technical standards requirements that DTT has?

Both satellite and Freeview versions of ITV's main channel are 720x576.


When did that change ? Presumably when the 'must carry' on D-Sat directive came in ? I clearly haven't been paying attention over the last few years !
LV
LondonViewer
Are ITV HD variants on 103 in Freesat homes currently? If not, will this change in light of extra HD regions, SD discontinuation.
MA
Markymark
Are ITV HD variants on 103 in Freesat homes currently? If not, will this change in light of extra HD regions, SD discontinuation.


I think where the HD version that's available is 'correct' for a particular locality, then the HD version of ITV is mapped to 103 ?
MI
TheMike
Are ITV HD variants on 103 in Freesat homes currently? If not, will this change in light of extra HD regions, SD discontinuation.


I think where the HD version that's available is 'correct' for a particular locality, then the HD version of ITV is mapped to 103 ?

No. ITV HD is on Freesat 111 in all ITV regions. On Tuesday, ITV HD will move to channel 103.


To check Freesat channels go to https://www.freesat.co.uk/tv-guide and enter a postcode for the TV region you're interested in. A London postcode input in the TV guide and in a Freesat TV/box will give you ITV London SD on 103 and ITV London HD on 111 until shortly after Sky have made the necessary changes on 20th October. This is due to a stage called the 'adaptation hub', after which the Freesat EPG will be changed to show ITV HD on 103. Whether ITV SD moves to 111 or vanishes altogether remains to be seen. I expect ITV+1 regions to be remapped ahead of being withdrawn from Sky, so look out for changes on Monday afternoon on Freesat in affected regions.
Last edited by TheMike on 17 October 2020 3:40pm - 2 times in total
LondonViewer and Markymark gave kudos
SS
SkySaint
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/itv-service-changes-october


ITV apparently shutting down a number of their SD services on satellite at the same time. There's going to be some significant holes... especially in Yorkshire (where only Yorks West will remain, with no timeshifts).


Regarding +1's, what will be left after next Tuesday?

I'm guessing everyone in Northern England will get Granada+1, and Central+1 will be in Wales, HTV West and Westcountry regions?

Freeview only has limited +1 regions, maybe trying to replicate these on satelite?



Freeview has had the all *available* +1s (there never was the full set of +1's down to micro regional level on any platform)

This is a reversion to the macro regions

Northern Macro - Granada, Yorkshire, Tyne Tees [Carries Granada]
Midwest Macro - Central, Wales, West Country (incorporating the old 'west' region) [ Carries Central West micro.]
South East Macro - Anglia and Meridian [Carries Meridian E micro]


It'll mean the +1's will cover the same areas as the macro HD regions on Freeview.


Does anyone know how many ITV +1 regions are carried by Virgin, please?
SS
SkySaint
Are ITV HD variants on 103 in Freesat homes currently? If not, will this change in light of extra HD regions, SD discontinuation.


I think where the HD version that's available is 'correct' for a particular locality, then the HD version of ITV is mapped to 103 ?

No. ITV HD is on Freesat 111 in all ITV regions. On Tuesday, ITV HD will move to channel 103.


To check Freesat channels go to https://www.freesat.co.uk/tv-guide and enter a postcode for the TV region you're interested in. A London postcode input in the TV guide and in a Freesat TV/box will give you ITV London SD on 103 and ITV London HD on 111 until shortly after Sky have made the necessary changes on 20th October. This is due to a stage called the 'adaptation hub', after which the Freesat EPG will be changed to show ITV HD on 103. Whether ITV SD moves to 111 or vanishes altogether remains to be seen. I expect ITV+1 regions to be remapped ahead of being withdrawn from Sky, so look out for changes on Monday afternoon on Freesat in affected regions.


The ITV Border announcement wasn’t very clear but it didn’t promise ITV HD on 103 on Freesat in Border Scotland. It was clear that Border Scotland would continue to get its own region on 103. Since that doesn’t exist in HD and there are no current plans to add it, I would think that as a minimum LCN 111 will be needed for ITV HD in the Border Scotland region. It may also be used for the SD version in all other regions (apart from Channel Islands which I assume will have SD on 103).
MI
TheMike

I think where the HD version that's available is 'correct' for a particular locality, then the HD version of ITV is mapped to 103 ?

No. ITV HD is on Freesat 111 in all ITV regions. On Tuesday, ITV HD will move to channel 103.


To check Freesat channels go to https://www.freesat.co.uk/tv-guide and enter a postcode for the TV region you're interested in. A London postcode input in the TV guide and in a Freesat TV/box will give you ITV London SD on 103 and ITV London HD on 111 until shortly after Sky have made the necessary changes on 20th October. This is due to a stage called the 'adaptation hub', after which the Freesat EPG will be changed to show ITV HD on 103. Whether ITV SD moves to 111 or vanishes altogether remains to be seen. I expect ITV+1 regions to be remapped ahead of being withdrawn from Sky, so look out for changes on Monday afternoon on Freesat in affected regions.


The ITV Border announcement wasn’t very clear but it didn’t promise ITV HD on 103 on Freesat in Border Scotland. It was clear that Border Scotland would continue to get its own region on 103. Since that doesn’t exist in HD and there are no current plans to add it, I would think that as a minimum LCN 111 will be needed for ITV HD in the Border Scotland region. It may also be used for the SD version in all other regions (apart from Channel Islands which I assume will have SD on 103).

It's a valid point, and some comms from both Freesat and Freeview over the years have skirted around the availablity of ITV in the Border Scotland region or avoided all mention. So I'm pleased ITV has made an announcement, although I feel it does gloss over the fact Border Scotland will miss out on HD in the primary position, and feels like a marketing article rather than something that belongs to a news site.*

You are right that 111 or another slot would have to be retained for ITV HD in the last two SD-only ITV areas.

* https://www.itv.com/news/border/2020-10-14/information-for-itv-news-border-satellite-viewers
MA
Markymark
No. ITV HD is on Freesat 111 in all ITV regions. On Tuesday, ITV HD will move to channel 103.


To check Freesat channels go to https://www.freesat.co.uk/tv-guide and enter a postcode for the TV region you're interested in. A London postcode input in the TV guide and in a Freesat TV/box will give you ITV London SD on 103 and ITV London HD on 111 until shortly after Sky have made the necessary changes on 20th October. This is due to a stage called the 'adaptation hub', after which the Freesat EPG will be changed to show ITV HD on 103. Whether ITV SD moves to 111 or vanishes altogether remains to be seen. I expect ITV+1 regions to be remapped ahead of being withdrawn from Sky, so look out for changes on Monday afternoon on Freesat in affected regions.


The ITV Border announcement wasn’t very clear but it didn’t promise ITV HD on 103 on Freesat in Border Scotland. It was clear that Border Scotland would continue to get its own region on 103. Since that doesn’t exist in HD and there are no current plans to add it, I would think that as a minimum LCN 111 will be needed for ITV HD in the Border Scotland region. It may also be used for the SD version in all other regions (apart from Channel Islands which I assume will have SD on 103).

It's a valid point, and some comms from both Freesat and Freeview over the years have skirted around the availablity of ITV in the Border Scotland region or avoided all mention. So I'm pleased ITV has made an announcement, although I feel it does gloss over the fact Border Scotland will miss out on HD in the primary position, and feels like a marketing article rather than something that belongs to a news site.*

You are right that 111 or another slot would have to be retained for ITV HD in the last two SD-only ITV areas.

* https://www.itv.com/news/border/2020-10-14/information-for-itv-news-border-satellite-viewers


As an aside, I've just dragged my old Freesat box out of retirement, and run a rescan for my own home postcode.

ITV Meridian SD is on 103, and 'This service is scambled' message on Ch 111 for ITV HD !

Everything else is as per expected
SP
Spencer

Are ITV's SD streams still 544 x 576? Odd that Ofcom would make D-Sat a must carry platform but not impose the same minimum technical standards requirements that DTT has?

Both satellite and Freeview versions of ITV's main channel are 720x576.


When did that change ? Presumably when the 'must carry' on D-Sat directive came in ? I clearly haven't been paying attention over the last few years !


I may have totally misremembered, but I have it in mind that ITV increased its resolution on satellite to 720x576 quite a long time ago. I’m sure I remember there being an improvement on SD before ITV HD launched on DSat, so probably over 10 years ago. I seem to remember some discussion on here about how they’d got some new, more efficient encoders which allowed them to improve the picture quality.

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