London DSO

So now London has switched over does this mean that channels that have limited broadcasting time on freeview can extended their hours? Or is that a totally different issue altogether?

Explain your reasoning, please.

I'm not sure what you mean either

Nothing really has changed in terms of number of multiplexes* or the bandwidth on each one. Also what London has now isn't any different to what the other switched over areas have got



*although London now has one less multiplex than it did before switch over as it had a temporary one with the HD channels on

I was going by the "more channels" phrase that's always mentioned. I was thinking that maybe channels on a restricted broadcast time could now extended their hours after DSO.

Not sure what you mean by the "more channels" phrase. The only change is that in some areas that didn't have a temporary HD mux, the HD channels arrived when DSO happened. CP in London was one of the 5 transmitters that got a 7th mux to carry HD channels before analogue switch over (and the change to the existing digital muxes)

Whilst analogue switching off has free-ed up some RF bandwidth - this isn't currently being used for any extra digital TV services. Even the HD stuff is still using bandwidth previously used for digital TV - by rejigging the SD services from 6 muxes to 5 at DSO (by switching the 4 BBC and Freeview muxes to 24Mbs from 18Mbs but switching from 2k to 8k to be more robust), the 6th slot was free-ed up to carry the DVB-T2 HD mux.

Isn't more channels when we're talking analogue verses digital? I haven't heard it digital pre-DSO verses digitial post-DSO.

Yes, it's more channels for those who never had digital before. I think Sky were advertising them as an alternative at switchover using the phrase 'more channels' too

Would there be room for more channels post-DSO if the government weren't proposing to sell the frequencies to 4G operators?

Yes, and no. UHF Chs 61-69 (aka 800 MHz) will be removed from broadcast use, and handed over for 4G/LTE, though actually that is an EU decision, rather than a local UK one.

The other chunk Ch 31-37 has a fate yet to be decided, it's possible that three more national muxes could end up there, or it could be removed from broadcast too.

The other issue brewing up now, is increased pressure to release the so called 700 MHz band for non broadcast use, if that goes ahead, then that's Ch 48 to 60 gone, and if this happens it will mean new aerials for many, and a reduction of muxes in most areas.

I think the bottom line is long term (15-20 years) terrestrial TV broadcasting in the form we have now, will completely cease, we may not even have post DSO DTT for as long as we've had pre DSO DTT.

For anyone who missed it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rg-yVRLK0M&feature=youtube_gdata

Wow, the quality of that clip is superb! BBC1 was looking pretty grotty for metowards the end on analogue from CP....

Bet it was a bit frustrating that it was such a quick credit roll though eh?

Random observation - both BBC1 and 2's final programmes from Crystal Palace analogue ended on a BBC Northern Ireland endcap...which is of course the final region to convert to digital. Spooky!

Just me then? As you were...