Re: Freeview changes
 

It reads to me more like they didn't know the exact date of the multiplex move, so they gave a range. I don't think anything will happen on Thursday, the Shopping Quarter on PSB3 closed when it started on COM6.

Re: Freeview changes
 

​Ok here's a move you couldn't see coming.

5Select is moving to a DVB-T2 multiplex on 1st July.

Most likely to be BBCB/PSB3 as the wording says "We're making these changes to ensure the continued availability of 5Select into the future​​" and COM7 is temporary.

https://faqs.channel5.com/hc/en-us/a...st-July​

Why it would move from COM4, where 4 other of its channels are, isn't obvious. It is the lowest rated, bearing in mind that there aren't separate C5+1 ratings on the BARB website and you'd expect that to actually be the lowest rating of the Freeview-available channels.

When many (including me) had been expecting PSB3 to be adding extra HD streams and so vacating the SD channels, this is a surprise if it is indeed going to the stream just vacated by Shopping Quarter.

Is there going to be a reconfiguring of COM4 needing space to implement?

Is it simply a cost cutting measure since DTT is the most expensive platform to broadcast on?

So many things to wonder about.

---------- Post added at 11:53 ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 ----------

The pop-up message is already showing on the channel telling you you need to retune on the 1st as there's going to ne a change. Most DVB-T2 tuners automatically retune anyway so the retune information is in some respects unnecessary.

Maybe it should instead say "you may lose this channel on the 1st, if you can't see it after this date you need to upgrade to a Freeview HD or Play branded device".

Re: Freeview changes
 

Look like ViacomCBS deal with COM4 to broadcast Channel 5 + 24/My 5/ 5Select is up and an other broadcaster (unkown at time of posting) has out bid ViacomCBS for that slot.

So with the info you have posted it look like 5Select will be move to BBC B/PSB3

Re: Freeview changes
 

I've come up with an alternative idea regarding what's happening with 5Select. It's unlikely though.

The information posted by Channel 5 says it's only going to be receivable on Freeview via equipment with an HD tuner, so the automatic thinking is BBCB/PSB3 or the temporary COM7 but that's not actually the only possibility.

In the UK our HD DTT multiplexes have all been DVB-T2 with MPEG4 streams carrying the HD and SD channels on them. However HD doesn't need to be MPEG4 and MPEG4 doesn't need to be DVB-T2. To my recollection Australia had (past tense) HD using MPEG2 and France used to have MPEG4 carried via DVB-T.

My point is that it that one of the current UK DVB-T multiplexes could carry an MPEG4 stream alongside the MPEG2 streams. A channel delivered this way would only be receivable by equipment with the ability to decode MPEG4, which in the UK would mean equipment that also happens to be DVB-T2. DVB-T2 equipment would decode the MPEG4 whether it is on T or T2.

Why would you want to carry MPEG4 on a DVB-T multiplex in the UK? Well it's a way of slowly transitioning services to better technology without switching the entire multiplex over and requiring all the channels on that multiplex to change at once.

There would be a gradual change, and one by one the entire multiplex will turn MPEG4. By the end you could simply upgrade the multiplex to DVB-T2 and benefit from the extra bandwidth from doing so, allowing more services or better quality transmission e.g. higher res SD or HD, or a mix of both.

DVB-T2 offers more bandwidth than DVB-T, it's not that HD or MPEG4 can't be delivered by the latter.

A mixed technology service has already been implemented in the UK, so it can be done. The main National 1 commercial DAB Radio multiplex has been carrying a mix of DAB and DAB+ for a few years now. Gradually more and more DAB+ stations have been added as the DAB stations have been removed. Old DAB equipment can see the DAB+ stations listed but not tune in, an incentive to upgrade but not rendering their existing equipment useless.

Maybe 5Select is remaining on COM4/SDN and simply this is the first of many channels to switch?

Re: Freeview changes
 

Due to Radio channels being on COM5 and COM6 they may not have room for up to 18 streams and can only hold 16 streams.

SDN has 18 streams but no radio channels.

Re: Freeview changes
 

SDN does carry radio. Capital, Absolute and Heart.
Source: https://www.freeview.co.uk/corporate...-professionals

Re: Freeview changes
 

oops

---------- Post added at 15:07 ---------- Previous post was at 14:54 ----------

But ARQ A broadcasts:
-talkSPORT (1)
-RNIB Connect (2)
-Classic FM (3)
-LBC (4)
-Trans World Radio (5)

And ARQ B broadcasts:
-Hits Radio (1)
-KISS FRESH (2)
-KISS (3)
-KISSTORY (4)
-Magic Radio (5)
-Greatest Hits Radio (6)
-Kerrang! Radio (7)
-Smooth Radio (8)
-Premier Radio (9)

So base on SDN Mux (By the looks of things Three Radio channels take up the space of one SD Channel).

ARQ A/COM5 have got room to launch an Radio channel and also an SD Channel.
ARQ B/COM6 have got no more room.

Re: Freeview changes
 

Thought COM5 and COM6 could similarly do the gradual transition to MPEG4 I suggested as a (slim) possibility above, I can't see Arqiva adding Shopping Quarter as MPEG2 on Tuesday if they were about to (slowly) transition a multiplex. COM4/SDN being owned by ITV has an interest in starting to move things forward as it brings ending dual transmission (HD/SD) of PSB closer, and the costs associated with it. If 5Select's contract was up maybe it's the first candidate for all transmission carriage renewal deals?

It probably will be BBCB/PSB3, I'm just positing an alternative possibility.

Re: Freeview changes
 

I think Ideal World (Channel 22) is up in 2022.

I think it stay to say 5Select's contract is up and need to move due to being outbid with an other unkown broadcaster.

In the past on Freeview Price Drop was axe for some months when Discovery was rumour to pay £10m for Price Drop slot to launch Quest.

Re: Freeview changes
 

5Select has moved from COM4 multiplex to BBCB/PSB3. Now requires DVB-T2 equipment to receive. Channel number of 55 remains unchanged.

365 Travel has been removed on Ch 251. This service was on COM4.

Re: Freeview changes
 

TV Channellists.com is today reporting that That's TV Gold is rumoured to launch Freeview HD and Sky on July 8th 2021.

https://www.tvchannellists.com/Forth...UK_%26_Ireland)

Re: Freeview changes
 

There's some posters on Digital Spy who are saying there's a noticeable change in programming from that date on the EPG schedule data. Not a complete change, but different enough.

Re: Freeview changes
 

That's TV Gold will broadcast the same as That's TV Local.

Thursday on both channels at 6am That's 80s will be broadcast. (After 9am no more listings That's TV Gold has appeared so far)

That's TV Local will broadcast That's TV Gold for up to 6 hours a day from Thursday.

Source: My TV Set.

Re: Freeview changes
 

New Shopping channel set to launch on Freeview.

DTT UK via Twitter is reporting that Ofcom has today given out an new DTPS channel licence to "CraftExtra".

https://twitter.com/ukdtt/status/1412316647965270017

Re: Freeview changes
 

I'd imagine it would cost too much to be worthwhile on COM4 and Ideal Extra launched on the Local mux much to many's surprise (as they weren't expecting an extra stream added), so I wouldn't put it past Ideal World putting it on COM7, knowing it won't be there for long and getting a cheap deal as a result. There's still an empty stream after That's TV Gold launches on it, to my recollection.

Maybe COM5 and COM6 might be reconfiguring for extra streams?

So many options. :D

I hope it isn't COM4, what a waste of an opportunity.