The Freeview Thread

My YouView box updates with new channels of course, and my Samsung Plasma TV from 2009 does to a certain degree, despite the fact that it is DVB-T only.

NOW TV Smart Boxes almost always need a retune for any changes to the Freeview lineup.

Yes, so does a 2007 T1 Sony telly of mine.

COM7 and COM8 are experiencing technical changes that will reduce bandwidth for both muxes - so this move by the BBC is presumably there to balance the books.

COM7 is almost practically full whereas there is a wealth of space available on COM8.

Yes, the guard interval of both is being increased (significantly), because starting in February this year, COM 7 and 8 will be moving to a national SFN on UHF channels 55 and 56.

The longer the GI, the more overlap is possible with SFNs before 'mush zones' are generated. However
the price you pay for that is a lower payload, and therefore fewer channels can be carried.

Waltham will be the first site to move COM 8 on February 7th, followed by the end of March by COM 7 and/or 8 moving at a number of key sites such as Oxford, Sutton Coldfield, Rowridge, and (shock horror) Crystal Palace. All 30 sites carrying COM 7 and 8 will move to the national SFN between now and 2020. However both muxes are expected to be gone by 2022. The area they are moving to is a tiny bit of space within the 700 MHz band that will be retained for broadcasting until 2022.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/operations/700mhz_clearance/clearance_events_in_2018

Compression on PSB2 has reportedly allowed for ITV3 and another unknown stream (possibly another C4 service to move from commercial muxes?) to test on the multiplex. ITV3’s return to PSB2 fills what is a deep void for Freeview Lite areas.

And it will shake up COM4 as a result:
- ITV3+1 becoming a 24 hour stream
- CITV’s Freeview hours finally reaching parity with Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat
- ITV4+1 possibly filling in for CITV downtime on Freeview

UPDATE: Tests for ITV3 and the other unnamed service have extended to Welsh transmitters, Sutton Coldfield, Waltham and saving the best for last, Crystal Palace

In that case, I wonder if the CI PSB2 can squeeze in ITV4 as they already have ITV3 using the ITV1+1 slot elsewhere?

ITV4 is already on PSB2 as far as it's concerned. In this situation, either we could see ITV+1 finally launch in the Channel Islands, or another ITV channel fills the gap (ITVBe?)

Ofcom has issued a licence for Pick's +1 service.



If it comes to fruition, then it could find itself a place on COM7 or COM8, and thereby killing off the three channel limit Sky are bound to on Freeview.

COM5 and COM6 are possible too, should Channel 4 move either 4seven or E4+1 onto PSB2.
COM4 is simply not possible - ITV will most likely take advantage of the space to ensure extended hours for ITV3+1, ITV4+1 and CITV.

To be honest that three channel limit should have gone years ago (and may indeed have expired) considering they went from having 4-6 channels on those muxes to 12-15.

Pick+1 would be a waste of a slot unless it's just a placeholder broadcasting for a few hours in the night to hold an EPG position. Real Lives would be a much better addition to Freeview (and Freesat) as it is very much on par with Pick and Challenge, Sky's existing free 'entertainment' channels.

A few updates:

- The hidden ITV3 stream on PSB2 has been added on LCN 788. Note that image quality is clearer compared to the COM4 stream (720x576 > 544x576)
- YourTV+1 (LCN 73) has been removed (good riddance). Frees up a vacant EPG slot that could be potentially valuable in the future.
- Pick+1 has been added on LCN 97, and is carried on COM7. Seems that Sky is now content to finally extend beyond three channels on Freeview, and the limit doesn't apply to COM7/8. It's using capacity previously allocated to CBS Action+1

Yes, it seems the PSB2 version is at 720x576 instead of COM4's 544x576