The Freeview Thread

Hiya,

Now all the new channels launching on Freeview, are dates known and what channels are actually launching and what stories are a load of rubbish?
Am I right in thinking that the TCM, CNN, Boomerang deal maybe back on in some way or another? Just a rumour I heard somewhere.

Thanks,
Joel.

Is UK Gold going to be on Freeview. If they did, then I might consider getting it.

[ Launching this year:
Disney Entertainment Channel (possibly in association with CiTV/ITV Kids).

Launching next year:
More4.
Setanta Sports.
Freeview EPG

Hoping to launch:
CBM Freesport.
SKY pay TV element. (lol!)

Rumoured:
TCM deal back on.
ITV Gold ('plus' revamp)

As far as I know, neither ITV or the BBC want UK Gold on Freeview because it would be too much competition.

Disney to launch an unnamed channel (NOT the Disney Channel) "this winter".
CBM to launch "Freesport" - no timescale given.
Setanta Sports to launch a channel, no timescale given
Channel 4 to launch More4 "early next year".

The TCM rumours probably stem from someone on DigitalSpy noticing they have a lisence to broadcast on DTT on the ITC website (a new addition to the site).



UK Gold is unlikely to ever be on Freeview.

Thanks for that info.
Does anybody know what will be on the channels?
For example, will 'More4' be a kind of over 40s channel playing Cheers all day, or will it be an 'E4 Lite' Channel? Or does nobody know!!
The 'Freeview EPG'. Is that the 7-Day EPG people talk about? I have heard some boxes will not support it - I have an iDTV (don't know if that makes any difference) but will it be able to support it.

Thanks again,
Joel.

I can't be completely sure - but I'm pretty doubtful about iDTV.

More4 will show 4's DIY programmes, Wife Swap and Frasier.
Setanta will show crap minority sports like Nigerian badminton.
The Disney channel will show 'top Disney entertainment' like 'General Hospital'.

The EPG is a seven day EPG that will work with box software on newer boxes, or as an MHEG on older boxes. If your iDTV has digital text you will get the EPG.

By digital text do you mean BBCi text or teletext or anything?

Sorry if I sound like a bit of an idiot!
Joel.

It's alright, I live to serve.

Digital text (or technically an 'MHEG engine') is required for MHEG applications which include Free2Play games, BBCi, Teletext or theHitsXtra.

Many iDTVs were never upgraded, but those that can receive digital text services will get a stripped-down version of the seven day EPG.

And many iDTVs (not trying to generalise) fail to do this or to do it properly.

*cough* Sony.

I don't see why the BBC don't want it - they indirectly own a large part of it. As I've said before, UK Gold is still seen as something of a killer must have channel. If it was on Freeview, it would attract countless new people to DTT. Since the beeb have a vested interest in seeing it succeed, taking a 'we want Freeview to be succesful - as long as it's through our own domestic channels' line is being very short sighted.

Really, I do believe that a big name pay TV channel is desparately needed to give Freeview some serious appeal (and I'm sorry, but channels like FTN and UK BrightIdeas give it none), and UK Gold is the only one which can feasibly make an appearance.

There is a reason why it's considered 'too strong competition' - because there's bugger all on there, which is always going to hold back the potential of Freeview as long as the gatekeepers treat it as a closed club, only allowing on channels which pose no serious competition to themselves - in hindsight perhaps it was a mistake to allow broadcasters with their own channel interests to have so much control over the platform.