Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Channels which fail to properly deal with and inform them of their post Brexit licensing arrangements face being taken off the air.

Sky has been the first to write to channels, including Disney and Discovery, with VM expected to follow suit.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...rexit-blackout

In recent months several channels have been surrendering their Ofcom licenses as they stop uplinking their services from London in favour of other EU countries.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

In the case of no deal:

1. the UK will fallback on the European Convention on Transfrontier Television Council of Europe agreement, this allows channels to broadcast to audiences in other nations, however not all countries have signed up to it and as the agreement was written in the late 1980's during the early days of satellite TV there's no mention of VOD services. If this is the case, channels can still broadcast from the UK and then use one of their offices in the EU to handle the VOD part, however channels will need both an Ofcom licence and a license from a EU/EEA member state. The UK is leaving the EU and not the Council of Europe which has nothing to do with the EU. Any UK produced show will still continue to be "European" because of ECTT and will still count towards European content quotas. It's highly unlikely ECTT will be amended to include the missing EU countries, as the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) has superseded ECTT for EU member states but incorporates it.

2. Although there's an impasse on a trade agreement because of the Irish border issue, there's no reason for the services (financial services, broadcasting etc.) part of the agreement (as well as other reciprocal agreements) not to be implemented, the only thing stopping the deal is finding a technical solution for near frictionless cross-border trade for physical goods, the Brexit deal is actually a series of agreements and 90% of it is done, that would be two years of complex negotiations gone down the drain.

3. If the above fails, the EU can still make separate arrangements with the UK, including reciprocal agreements, like they already done with other non-EU countries. This can include filling the gaps of ECTT and to include VOD.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...no-brexit-deal

I yet to see any evidence of channels leaving, in fact I've noticed that Disney recently moved over some of their other EU licenses over to the UK.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I doubt that Sky and the other companies will be doing this for the fun of it!

They must believe that this action is neccesary in order to cover themselves.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Jesus H, what next to stop us leaving, what a load of utter dross!

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

It's not to stop us leaving, it's to ensure that everything is in place when we leave to minimise changes to services.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

More remoaner Project Fear.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Any idea of how much applying for the new licence will cost?

. . . and hands up all those who think they'll get refused one :rolleyes:

Anyone who uses the word 'remoaner' can safely be ignored.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

It's not about cost or any channel being refused one as, if all the conditions are met, Ofcom (in the case of the UK) must issue a licence. It's about TV platforms ensuring that channels make any neccessary arrangements in order to prevent themselves from getting prosecuted for broadcasting unlicensed and, therefore, unauthorised services.

You might think that it is a given that this is done in order to stay in business, but every year some channels fail to pay the annual fee or other compliance issues, just in the same way that bars fail to renew their alcohol licenses and then complain if they are effectively closed down.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

No it's not, as explained elsewhere in the thread.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Well lets hope that shower called Eurovision Song Contest is effected.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Indeed also any reality to show:td:

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

It won't be. The European Broadcasting Union is unrelated to the EU.

And you've got a lot to thank the EBU for. See the "Technical Activities" section here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe...dcasting_Union

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

The UK is one of the founding members of the contest, we are always entered in it regardless.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Unfortunately, really don't know why we bother:confused:

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Well, if we all stopped watching it maybe we'd give up Eurovision as a bad job. The more you watch it, the more it will go on, and on...

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

We pour so much money into it to be unfairly treated by the other countries collaborating against us too. I know it's only a song show, but perhaps it represents their attitude regarding other, more important, things too.

Maybe we should pull out until they agree to stop this behaviour as it's not in the spirit of why the contest began.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Let ITV have it - they can make it a Premium Rate telephone charge to vote - and go to an ad-break as the winner is revealed.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I think it should go to UKTV. Then we could (nearly) all ignore it.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Not a lover of it personally but then millions love it.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Do they?

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Losing TV channels will be the least of our worries with Brexit.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Just for you Raider999.;)

https://eurovoix.com/2018/05/13/unit...ase-by-200000/

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

So you say, Mr K. We'll all look back in five years and wonder what all the fuss was about. We will start losing channels over the coming years, but that will be related to the increase in the use of on demand services rather than Brexit, for which we will have a separate agreement with the EU.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Ireland receives first post-Brexit licence application.

It’s emerged the Irish media regulator has received its first licence application from a UK-based broadcaster seeking to maintain distribution after Brexit.

Speaking at the Mediacon television and content conference in Dublin, Michael O’Keeffe, chief executive of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), confirmed the regulator had received such an application but declined to say who from.

Source : https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018...eid=231a17ad03

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

TV5 will be closing in January 2019 and Worldbox will be closing on 1/2/19.

Presumably they didn't think it worth the hassle of getting a licence from Ofcom to transmit to the UK

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I think I probably agree with them.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I think they wont be missed!

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Makes me think of the Mikado and the lord high executioner: "I've got a little list. of those who'll not be missed" :D

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

No more EuroNews and Eurosport?

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I haven't watched anything on Eurosport for years

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I believe Discovery which own Eurosport have a British Broadcasting licence.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44307883

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

It is down to the individual channel to hold a UK licence rather than the parent company. Eurosport UK doesn't have an Ofcom license. They will need to acquire one soon and move their satellite uplink to the UK if it is still based in Paris.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Aye agreed. I think people honestly think its as easy to say "we're leaving" and its done and dusted. The amount of european laws which need to be copied over technically into our legalisation hundreds of thousands...nothing of this size with a country of our size has been done before its an incredibly complex thing. Will the channels be blacked out? No i see no reason. Is there a bloody lot of work to do before brexit to ensure a smooth transition for channels you bet your bottom yes. So its not project fear or remoaning its being realistic.

Anyway enough politics chat from me it bores me these days- 2019 should be interesting regardless for virgin media

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Unfortunately, some (admittedly minority) channels have now confirmed that they have/will be closing in the UK.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

My missus watches TV5 daily.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Be interesting to see how many actually do.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

BabeNation (Channel 981) may close due to Brexit it have an Holland Broadcasting licence.*

*We have seen that info on the web over the years.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

So they don’t flash it up on screen then? :naughty:

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

lmfao, why would anyone watch that trash, there's more than enough of that stuff online....;)

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Latest news on Discovery and Bloomberg changes to continue operating if we leave with a no deal Brexit:

https://www.a516digital.com/2019/01/...ations-to.html

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

A516Digital is reporting TV5 will brexit Virgin Media UK on Friday (January 18th).

---------- Post added at 21:21 ---------- Previous post was at 21:19 ----------

The OFCOM web site has confirmed tonight at Babenation has now got an UK Broadcasting licence.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

That’s a stroke of luck...

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

boom boom! Well played.

Surely british eurosport has a british license already otherwise we'd have been getting the normal european version? (havent turned on eurosport for years but i assume its still called british eurosport)

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Well since Discovery took over Eurosport.

The Eurosports channels has been rebranded as Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 with Quest helping them if they have to broadcast too much LIVE Sport.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Yes, they already have a licence to broadcast in this country. However they need another licence to broadcast to other EU countries if we Brexit with no dsal.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Despite the name, they don’t need a British licence under current rules. They only need a broadcast licence from any EU country to broadcast anywhere in the EU.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

This is from May 2018, but it does show that Discovery have been taking steps to keep their channels on air should the UK leave the EU without a deal:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...st-brexit-plan

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Broadband TV news has posted this about the BBC should we leave the EU without a deal:

Brexit: BBC domestic channels to lose international distribution.

In case of a ‘no-deal-Brexit’ the BBC is set to lose the international distribution of its domestic channels in Ireland, The Netherlands and Belgium.

At the moment, five domestic BBC channels are distributed via cable and IPTV networks, as a result of so-called ‘overspill’ reception in the three neighbouring countries.

The channels involved are BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBeebies and CBBC. Distribution of these channels brings in a significant amount of money for the BBC.
Carriage of the domestic channels has grown historically, as people in the neighbouring countries were able to pick up the BBC signals from terrestrial transmitters. Under European law, it was possible for distribution platforms to carry these channels, who operate under a UK Ofcom licence.

After a ‘no-deal-Brexit’ these UK licences are no longer be valid in the European Union and distributing platforms such as Telenet in Belgium and Ziggo and KPN in The Netherlands will have to cease distribution of the domestic channels.

Spokespersons of Telenet and Ziggo said they do not want to speculate about possible consequences of a ‘no-deal-Brexit’. Both are studying the judicial consequences and will follow instructions from the media authorities, such as the Commissariaat voor de Media in The Netherlands.

The commercial channels of the BBC, such as BBC First, BBC Entertainment and BBC World News will not be affected, but the British broadcaster will need to apply for an EU licence in another country in the Union.

Talks are under way with media authorities in the Republic of Ireland and in The Netherlands, but a spokesperson for the Dutch Commissariaat voor de Media refused to comment. The BBC said it is not commenting on speculation, other than to say “We will be keeping the situation under close review to ensure that we can continue to best serve our audiences in any changed regulatory environment.”

Getting a broadcast licence in another country would require the BBC to have their head office (of the international operations), a significant part of their workforce (at least the people who are responsible for programming) and a satellite up-link in the country to qualify for a licence there. Such a licence would be a solution for the commercial channels, but would not work for the domestic channels.

Due to the unclear validity of the Ofcom licences in other European countries in the course of Brexit, Turner Broadcasting System and NBC Universal had also applied for German licences for their international channels previously licensed by Ofcom. Bavarian media authority BLM granted the licences in mid-December 2018. Sports broadcaster DAZN has applied for a licence in Berlin, while Discovery recently opted for the Netherlands.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Do anyone if TV5 is still broadcasting in EU's Ireland on Virgin Media Ireland?

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Any chance of giving us that in English? :erm:

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Exactly...........:erm:

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

No, British Eurosport is licensed in France and doesn't have an Ofcom licence at present. A TV channel doesn't need a UK broadcasting license even if it is aimed specifically at the UK. It only needs to be licensed in any EU nation. From the end of March this will all change for the UK.

There is now a flurry of activity as broadcasters move licences in and out of the UK in preparation for whatever happens on 29th March.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I think MB is asking if TV5 Monde has also been removed from VM Ireland. Seeing as France and the ROI will be remaining in the EU, there doesn't appear to be any licensing issues which would lead them to also pull the channel from the republic.

But they might have done, I don't know!

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

There's a chance that some radio stations on satellite/cable will be affected if they don't hold OFCOM licences, possibly including RTE which doesn't appear to be licenced by Ofcom and is presumably currently using its Irish licences to broadcast on sat/cable, which is allowed under EU rules.

http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/ra...llite-main.htm).

Courtesy of Omnidirectional.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

In the long run, I have to say I’m happier that broadcasters targeting the U.K. will have to have a UK issued licence. The present system makes a mockery of national sovereignty in this important area.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

This seems to sum the situation up:

https://www.mhc.ie/brexit/brexit-ins...-to-know-today

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

What,,,,,,, calm down ....all will be well, Folks.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I blame Trump and the Russians

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

I have to disagree...

I blame the Russians and Trump... :D

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Good News. Taking Pictures will be unaffected by Brexit :).
However the Health Service, jobs and general prosperity will .....

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

hahaha i assume this is sarcasm- well played good sir.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

In a nut shell who cares.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Totally agree,,

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Those who have/may lose access to various channels/programmes?

Those in the industry who have/will lose their jobs?

Those who have investments in any affected channels?

The Government as trade/jobs are lost to other countries?

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Is this yet more No-deal Brexit scaremongering?

Can you give us a list of channels that are going to disappear?

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Both TV5 & WorldBox has gone so far as due to Brexit. (I cant wait - roll on April 12th)

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

If that is it I am sure my life won't change

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Nope, it's a factual thread not concerned with the pros and cons of staying in or leaving the EU.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

So it's just the thread title that's scaremongering then.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Bring it on, the more rubbish that they bin because of Brexit, the better imo.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

Many channels that don't broadcast to the UK, but broadcast to other EU countries from the UK, have surrendered their Ofcom licenses and started broadcasting from other EU countries. Nevertheless, this has led to a loss of jobs and income for the UK.

Some that did broadcast to the UK from abroad eg TV5 Monde decided it wasn't worth the hassle and closed their UK TV feeds.

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

As there are "many" can you name some?

Re: Brexit blackout warning to channels.
 

https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/b...s-away-from-uk

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dis...it-1203105429/