BR
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.
That'll please Mr Murdoch.
Nothing mentioned here funnily enough but quite a bit about the end of Ceefax in the press (even though for most the country it ended months or years ago, and for parts it remains). OK, the digital service isn't as complete as Ceefax and I don't think they translated it to Digital TV as well as Teletext did in the end, but so many comments about how slow it is obviously coming from Sky viewers where it is painfully slow compared to on Freeview.
I do think now Ceefax has pretty much gone though they need to revamp the text service - even if it's just sorting out the numbering so that pages aren't even on random four digit numbers or on stupid page numbers (like Rugby Union on p368, League on p371). I doubt the BBC will do what Teletext did and give every page a number (they'll claim it's not possible even though both Teletext and Sky Text managed it!) but they can at least take advantage of 20 page sections not actually needing 20 pages and give it a good spring clean.
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.
That'll please Mr Murdoch.
Nothing mentioned here funnily enough but quite a bit about the end of Ceefax in the press (even though for most the country it ended months or years ago, and for parts it remains). OK, the digital service isn't as complete as Ceefax and I don't think they translated it to Digital TV as well as Teletext did in the end, but so many comments about how slow it is obviously coming from Sky viewers where it is painfully slow compared to on Freeview.
I do think now Ceefax has pretty much gone though they need to revamp the text service - even if it's just sorting out the numbering so that pages aren't even on random four digit numbers or on stupid page numbers (like Rugby Union on p368, League on p371). I doubt the BBC will do what Teletext did and give every page a number (they'll claim it's not possible even though both Teletext and Sky Text managed it!) but they can at least take advantage of 20 page sections not actually needing 20 pages and give it a good spring clean.
NG
noggin
Founding member
Hmm - except CEEFAX hasn't ended yet has it? There are still a few analogue transmitters running in the UK and they are still carrying the service AIUI.
The press has carried a few 'the end of CEEFAX' stories - but in reality this is because most print journalists live in London, and it is just 'the end of CEEFAX (in London)'...
The press has carried a few 'the end of CEEFAX' stories - but in reality this is because most print journalists live in London, and it is just 'the end of CEEFAX (in London)'...
IS
Yep, and Pages From Ceefax apparently will still be on air over the weekend.
But BBC News, the newspapers, Have I Got News For You and Twitter have said it has closed.... so it has closed!
Hmm - except CEEFAX hasn't ended yet has it? There are still a few analogue transmitters running in the UK and they are still carrying the service AIUI.
Yep, and Pages From Ceefax apparently will still be on air over the weekend.
But BBC News, the newspapers, Have I Got News For You and Twitter have said it has closed.... so it has closed!
IS
There was quite a long thread about it here: http://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/ceefax-going-33080/
I suspect that once Ceefax is out the way meaning the content doesn't have to be in a form which fits both services they'll start to improve the digital text
Nothing mentioned here funnily enough but quite a bit about the end of Ceefax in the press
There was quite a long thread about it here: http://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/ceefax-going-33080/
Quote:
I do think now Ceefax has pretty much gone though they need to revamp the text service - even if it's just sorting out the numbering so that pages aren't even on random four digit numbers or on stupid page numbers (like Rugby Union on p368, League on p371). I doubt the BBC will do what Teletext did and give every page a number (they'll claim it's not possible even though both Teletext and Sky Text managed it!) but they can at least take advantage of 20 page sections not actually needing 20 pages and give it a good spring clean.
I suspect that once Ceefax is out the way meaning the content doesn't have to be in a form which fits both services they'll start to improve the digital text
MA
I wouldn't worry, there was no CA referring to it, just a minute or two of thrashing between programme, and non sync black. I'm told the PIE kit at CP was rather stubborn relinquishing control of the standby chains !
Is there a video of Channel 4 closing down in London? I can only find versions that start on the test card.
I wouldn't worry, there was no CA referring to it, just a minute or two of thrashing between programme, and non sync black. I'm told the PIE kit at CP was rather stubborn relinquishing control of the standby chains !
MA
Yep, and Pages From Ceefax apparently will still be on air over the weekend.
But BBC News, the newspapers, Have I Got News For You and Twitter have said it has closed.... so it has closed!
The editor of Ceefax was quoted on Newswatch this morning as saying the service will continue until later this year, presumably Oct 24th ?
Hmm - except CEEFAX hasn't ended yet has it? There are still a few analogue transmitters running in the UK and they are still carrying the service AIUI.
Yep, and Pages From Ceefax apparently will still be on air over the weekend.
But BBC News, the newspapers, Have I Got News For You and Twitter have said it has closed.... so it has closed!
The editor of Ceefax was quoted on Newswatch this morning as saying the service will continue until later this year, presumably Oct 24th ?
RW
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card. The ITV1 switch-off is different to the Crystal Palace closedown, as it went off several minutes earlier at Reigate. (Didn't manage to record Channel 5!)
Robert Williams
Founding member
Is there a video of Channel 4 closing down in London? I can only find versions that start on the test card.
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card. The ITV1 switch-off is different to the Crystal Palace closedown, as it went off several minutes earlier at Reigate. (Didn't manage to record Channel 5!)
MA
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card.
As an aside, can someone explain to me the purpose of that random zooming effect, during the first 25 seconds of the clip ?
Is there a video of Channel 4 closing down in London? I can only find versions that start on the test card.
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card.
As an aside, can someone explain to me the purpose of that random zooming effect, during the first 25 seconds of the clip ?
JA
james
Is there a video of Channel 4 closing down in London? I can only find versions that start on the test card.
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card.
As an aside, can someone explain to me the purpose of that random zooming effect, during the first 25 seconds of the clip ?
I guess its used to try and create tension and give a 'surveillance' feel to the show....
NG
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card.
As an aside, can someone explain to me the purpose of that random zooming effect, during the first 25 seconds of the clip ?
It's a production technique. When done well (which it wasn't in that clip) you shouldn't notice it as 'random zooms' and it adds a slightly suspense/verite feel. When done badly, as it was there (the zooms were too slow and not based in any way on the script) it just sticks out.
noggin
Founding member
Is there a video of Channel 4 closing down in London? I can only find versions that start on the test card.
I've uploaded a compilation of the BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 closedowns from the Reigate transmitter to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvow8RNpeM0 which includes the switch to the test card.
As an aside, can someone explain to me the purpose of that random zooming effect, during the first 25 seconds of the clip ?
It's a production technique. When done well (which it wasn't in that clip) you shouldn't notice it as 'random zooms' and it adds a slightly suspense/verite feel. When done badly, as it was there (the zooms were too slow and not based in any way on the script) it just sticks out.