Not really sure who else would want a slot that restrictive. Primetime's already well underway by 9 so it would only confuse people hoping to tune in before then.
Add to that, PSB1 is solely for BBC use and most HD channels are in pay TV territory.
Add to that, PSB1 is solely for BBC use and most HD channels are in pay TV territory.
I don't see that being confusing (unless I've misunderstood your post), no HD channels on Freeview are pay TV, and most people are probably unaware what multiplex a Channel is on or what 'PSB1' even is.
Either way, there can't be many channels who would want such a slot.
Add to that, PSB1 is solely for BBC use and most HD channels are in pay TV territory.
I don't see that being confusing (unless I've misunderstood your post), no HD channels on Freeview are pay TV, and most people are probably unaware what multiplex a Channel is on or what 'PSB1' even is.
Either way, there can't be many channels who would want such a slot.
To reiterate my point - the offshoots of ITV, C4 and various other broadcasters such as Sky and UKTV are locked behind a paywall, making it quite a challenge for how companies are interested in the spectrum. I doubt that many of them that have SD versions on Freeview will sacrifice the additional revenue made on Sky and Virgin, to get an HD version of the same service on Freeview HD. There isn't much by the way of FTA HD services.
Another challenge that the BBC just can't fix is that their main multiplex, PSB1, is solely for BBC use. They simply can't sell the remaining spectrum on to other broadcasters.
Add to that, PSB1 is solely for BBC use and most HD channels are in pay TV territory.
I don't see that being confusing (unless I've misunderstood your post), no HD channels on Freeview are pay TV, and most people are probably unaware what multiplex a Channel is on or what 'PSB1' even is.
Either way, there can't be many channels who would want such a slot.
To reiterate my point - the offshoots of ITV, C4 and various other broadcasters such as Sky and UKTV are locked behind a paywall, making it quite a challenge for how companies are interested in the spectrum. I doubt that many of them that have SD versions on Freeview will sacrifice the additional revenue made on Sky and Virgin, to get an HD version of the same service on Freeview HD. There isn't much by the way of FTA HD services.
Another challenge that the BBC just can't fix is that their main multiplex, PSB1, is solely for BBC use. They simply can't sell the remaining spectrum on to other broadcasters.
They're only selling HD space which isn't on PSB1.
The Craft Channel has been pulled on Freeview following reports of internal conflict. It's been recently having problems in providing normal programming and internal conflict could coincide with the channel unable to provide its accounts.
At least it's not as bad as Quiz Call, ITV Play, SuperCasino, CBM (Which didn't even launch) and Tease Me TV. But it didn't add much to the Freeview lineup.
I don't know - as bad as Quiz Call and ITV Play were at time I could watch them for a period of time without throwing a brick at my TV. I find the craft channels to be what Blue Peter would be like if they talked down to their viewers (and tried to flog them the sticky back plastic!)
I don't know - as bad as Quiz Call and ITV Play were at time I could watch them for a period of time without throwing a brick at my TV. I find the craft channels to be what Blue Peter would be like if they talked down to their viewers (and tried to flog them the sticky back plastic!)
Those channels were notorious for shockingly difficult quizzes while cheating viewers with extortionate phone rates for calling in - leading to the scandal that killed off the quiz TV craze. ITV realised what a mistake they had done and killed off ITV Play once it was known that its reputation was down the gutter.
Tease Me TV speaks for itself - multiple licence breaches with showing adult content of a hardcore nature at
pre-watershed hours
, and the owners having the balls to not pay £157k to Ofcom.
The craze that is screwing Freeview over now is blatant EPG squats. Strategic for broadcasters but of no benefit to the viewer.
I think the whole Craft tv market is saturated. There's only so many customers who'll buy the products.
In retrospect, ITV Play was actually one of the better resourced quiz tv channels, with ITV, Fremantle (Quizmania) and whoever produced The Mint being of reasonable quality, even if the games were tedious and in some cases a blatant rip-off. The only low budget show I remember was Play DJ with Nigel Mitchell playing songs over interactive games.
Quiz Call was clearly a low budget affair, but they had a decent line-up of presenters.
The Craft Channel has been pulled on Freeview following reports of internal conflict. It's been recently having problems in providing normal programming and internal conflict could coincide with the channel unable to provide its accounts.
It was announced in September that they were being taken over by HSE24 (a European shopping network) but the deal fell through in the last couple of weeks.
At the time they ramped up their live hours and added Freeview coverage although there was much confusion with their older demographic who didn't understand the difference between Freeview and Freeview HD - not helped by the fact the channel only ever referred to being on 'Freeview'.
A new backer has been found and the business is being run as a going concern but obviously cuts had to be made and Freeview HD, even with its limited coverage, is way over priced per subscribers compared to Sky & Freesat.
I think the whole Craft tv market is saturated. There's only so many customers who'll buy the products.
In retrospect, ITV Play was actually one of the better resourced quiz tv channels, with ITV, Fremantle (Quizmania) and whoever produced The Mint being of reasonable quality, even if the games were tedious and in some cases a blatant rip-off. The only low budget show I remember was Play DJ with Nigel Mitchell playing songs over interactive games.
Quiz Call was clearly a low budget affair, but they had a decent line-up of presenters.
I'd agree. ITV Play had a better budget compared to Quiz Call and the like, which was reflected on the quality of shows broadcast.
However as far as I've digged through, according to the Guardian, ITV only made money on the shows that were broadcast overnight on ITV1 and ITV2 - and the linear ITV Play channel was not making money. Ironic considering the aim of call in TV channels, and ITV willing to make more bank out of its multichannels.