IN
Challenge ending would probably be enough of a prod for me to disconnect my tellies from the aerial and satellite and stop paying the license.
TT
A+E Networks UK is a joint venture between Hearst and Sky, so Sky don't have complete control over the channels. They can't force BLAZE to be closed just because they want an extra Freeview slot!
Wouldn't Blaze be a more logical casualty? It's a sister channel of History, which is already becoming Sky branded.
A+E Networks UK is a joint venture between Hearst and Sky, so Sky don't have complete control over the channels. They can't force BLAZE to be closed just because they want an extra Freeview slot!
BR
I know plenty of people who couldn't care less about HD and are completely unaware and non-plussed that they have access to free HD channels.
If only Sky had a service which could offer them that? If the content appeals to a new audience it could drive numbers.
I do agree though that with the recent push of the Sky brand there is a change Pick may regain it's Sky branding. Never really understood why they dropped it when it is jam packed with Sky channel promos anyway.
Non event, who seriously wants to watch Arts programming in low def SD in Stereo only.
I know plenty of people who couldn't care less about HD and are completely unaware and non-plussed that they have access to free HD channels.
If only Sky had a service which could offer them that? If the content appeals to a new audience it could drive numbers.
I do agree though that with the recent push of the Sky brand there is a change Pick may regain it's Sky branding. Never really understood why they dropped it when it is jam packed with Sky channel promos anyway.
SP
I know plenty of people who couldn't care less about HD and are completely unaware and non-plussed that they have access to free HD channels.
If only Sky had a service which could offer them that? If the content appeals to a new audience it could drive numbers.
I do agree though that with the recent push of the Sky brand there is a change Pick may regain it's Sky branding. Never really understood why they dropped it when it is jam packed with Sky channel promos anyway.
I suppose there’s the danger that if people see several Sky branded channels on their Freeview EPG, some might think they’ve ‘got the Sky channels already’, so no need to pay for a subscription.
Non event, who seriously wants to watch Arts programming in low def SD in Stereo only.
I know plenty of people who couldn't care less about HD and are completely unaware and non-plussed that they have access to free HD channels.
If only Sky had a service which could offer them that? If the content appeals to a new audience it could drive numbers.
I do agree though that with the recent push of the Sky brand there is a change Pick may regain it's Sky branding. Never really understood why they dropped it when it is jam packed with Sky channel promos anyway.
I suppose there’s the danger that if people see several Sky branded channels on their Freeview EPG, some might think they’ve ‘got the Sky channels already’, so no need to pay for a subscription.
PF
They could change Challenge to Sky Arts and make Pick the Sky branded multi-format channel to use as a feeder to the pay TV service. Would shake up the Freeview line-up for sure. Not sure how I'd feel about losing access to Challenge though, it's one of the more regularly watched Freeview channels in my household.
NJ
Neil Jones
Founding member
Pick used to be effectively a shop window for the pay TV channels, it used to be called Sky 3 and was initially exclusive to Freeview, before it morphed into what it is now.
To be honest looking at the state of Challenge and the fact it's social media is long abandoned and the website has vanished, it's probably just limping along on life support presumably for some contractual reason or two. It's not the same channel it used to be and I sometimes wonder whether it would be kinder for Sky to either just put it out of its misery or flog it to somebody else - it is a unique channel in the marketplace but its been obvious for a while now they don't know what they want to do with it.
To be honest looking at the state of Challenge and the fact it's social media is long abandoned and the website has vanished, it's probably just limping along on life support presumably for some contractual reason or two. It's not the same channel it used to be and I sometimes wonder whether it would be kinder for Sky to either just put it out of its misery or flog it to somebody else - it is a unique channel in the marketplace but its been obvious for a while now they don't know what they want to do with it.
ST
Pick/Sky3 was never exclusive to Freeview. I has always been available on DSat (both Sky & Freesat), and possibly intermittently on VM.
Pick used to be effectively a shop window for the pay TV channels, it used to be called Sky 3 and was initially exclusive to Freeview, before it morphed into what it is now.
Pick/Sky3 was never exclusive to Freeview. I has always been available on DSat (both Sky & Freesat), and possibly intermittently on VM.
MA
Wasn't Challenge once part of what is now the UKTV family? When it was Flextech?
UKTV is a network with too many channels and not enough content they will show anymore.
Much of the older content is now deemed "inappropriate" for today's audiences, hence is not shown. This is partly why GOLD, for example, has endless repeats of OFAH and LOTSW to fill the schedules.
UK Gold should have remained two channels (UK Gold + Uk Gold 2), with possibly a +1 for each.
Pick used to be effectively a shop window for the pay TV channels, it used to be called Sky 3 and was initially exclusive to Freeview, before it morphed into what it is now.
To be honest looking at the state of Challenge and the fact it's social media is long abandoned and the website has vanished, it's probably just limping along on life support presumably for some contractual reason or two. It's not the same channel it used to be and I sometimes wonder whether it would be kinder for Sky to either just put it out of its misery or flog it to somebody else - it is a unique channel in the marketplace but its been obvious for a while now they don't know what they want to do with it.
To be honest looking at the state of Challenge and the fact it's social media is long abandoned and the website has vanished, it's probably just limping along on life support presumably for some contractual reason or two. It's not the same channel it used to be and I sometimes wonder whether it would be kinder for Sky to either just put it out of its misery or flog it to somebody else - it is a unique channel in the marketplace but its been obvious for a while now they don't know what they want to do with it.
Wasn't Challenge once part of what is now the UKTV family? When it was Flextech?
UKTV is a network with too many channels and not enough content they will show anymore.
Much of the older content is now deemed "inappropriate" for today's audiences, hence is not shown. This is partly why GOLD, for example, has endless repeats of OFAH and LOTSW to fill the schedules.
UK Gold should have remained two channels (UK Gold + Uk Gold 2), with possibly a +1 for each.