New BBC Free to air Channels?

Had a look on digitalspy.co.uk and found an article that shows the BBC may make more channels because of the proposed free terrestrial digibox for the free to air channels:

The BBC is exploring ways of increasing the number of its channels for its proposed FTA DTT service.

Our report last week detailed how the BBC is in discussions with other terrestrial broadcasters about launching a DTT box to deliver free-to-air DTT channels. As part of the scheme, the BBC is looking at boosting its FTA offering to provide more choice on the platform.

According to a report in today's Financial Times, the Corporation has held several talks with Flextech, it's 50-50 joint partner in the UKTV bouquet of channels, about switching some of them from subscription to FTA. UK Gold is tipped to be the channel most likely to move to FTA transmission.

Another option being considered is launching more BBC-branded stations, in addition to the recently-approved BBC4 and two children's channels.

'The BBC is genetically coded to grow,' one media executive told the paper. 'The master plan seems to be that by the end you have not just BBC1, 2, 3 and 4, but also BBC5, 6 and 7 as well.'


Now, this will mean more channels for us who pay for them too! Well, if it goes ahead.

Yes! Im glad too! Best thing is, as they are TV channels, rather than interacitve services, the BBC cant restrict them to SKY:D

This is all part of the plan for what to do when/if ITV Digital folds and the channels are able to make their own way on DTT.

Personally, I hope ITVD does fold, that way we can have these channels for free.

Yes, I think ITV Dig will fold too. Then the people who want DTT - just the free channels - can get a free box and recieve them.

It saves paying out if you don't want multi channels in your home, e.g. for the elderly etc who just want BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 etc.

I think it's a lot more than just the elderly - the majority of people still show no interest whatsoever in multichannel television. I'm not interested in having hundreds of channels - in fact I only got digital so I could receive all of the new BBC channels. So I look forward to the end of ITV Digital, and the free-to-air future of digital terrestrial television, which is what it should have been in the first place!

Yep, great news, it really would be competition to sky with channels like UK Gold(as mentioned), but also stuff like E4(a little trickier), Sky would really have more competition than they do now. On the subject of BBC 5, a cross of FIVE LIVE and The Wright Stuff, with some sport and entertainment(Liquid 5?), and even bits of working lunch (i'm quite fond of it!), would make a really good news channel, and would bring back the informality of the flags era, but more so, what do you think?

i agree - come on carlton/granada - put it out of its misery! i think the bbc is best placed to boost digital take up.

if/when this move goes ahead - i wouldnt be suprised to see sky subscriptions fall too... as people see the new 1off payment for the box as more attractive

btw. i thought bbc, itv, ch4, c5 and s4c all had a certain amount of space on dtt - the bbc has used theirs up (choice,n24 etc)- i suppose itv's is full of granada plus, carlton cinema etc., so whats to stop bbc using the remainder of c4's (theyve only got e4 and filmfour) or channel5's or s4c's dtt spaces?

ITV/C4/C5/S4C share the same multiplex.

James2001 - Not quite as Channel 5 are are part of the SDN multiplex. See here.

Regards

It is possible (though uncertain) that once analogue switchoff goes ahead there will be more transmission space available. And the plan, of course, is based on the assumption that ITVDigital folds, thus leaving 3 multiplexes vacant.

FYI - the muxes are arranged thus....

Mux1 - BBC
BBC1
BBC2
BBC Choice
BBC News 24
BBC Parliament
BBC Knowledge (due to launch here soon)

Mux2 - Digital 3&4
ITV1
ITV2
ITV Sport Channel
Channel4
E4
FilmFour

MuxA- SDN
Channel5
S4C (Wales)
S4C2 (Wales)
TeleG (Scotland)
ITV Select 1-5
ITV Sport Select
TV Travel Shop (until midday)
ITN NEws Channel (6am-9am)

MuxB - ITV Digital
Sky One
Sky Sports1
Sky Premier
British Eurosport
Carlton Cinema
Cartoon Network

MuxC - ITV Digital
Sky MovieMax
Sky Sports2
Granada Plus
UK Gold
MTV
Granada Breeze/Men&Motors

MuxD - ITV Digital
Nickelodeon/Paramount Comedy Channel
UK Style
UK Horizons
Play UK
Discovery
Wellbeing
Sky Sports3

That is about 95% accurate, probably got a couple mixed up - but that's basically it - there are also the text/games channels but.....who cares?