Quote:
Originally Posted by RWCable
In the spirit of broadcasters transitioning to DVB-T2-only muxes, does this timetable ( https://ukfree.tv/article/1107052554...from_2019_onwa) mean for certain that by 2023, most ITV, C4 and C5 stations will be unavailable via SD receivers and all commercial stations will be HD-only by 2026? |
No.
Nobody has committed to anything. This is just a table of dates. Not sure where they are getting them from. I've read many (year) dates for Com7/8 closure and they don't agree and not one person can give a definitive source. They range from 2020 to 2024 for those two temporary multiplexes. They seem to be based on a guess based on 700Mhz/5G clearance data.
The article is imagining how things will work out by extrapolating information. It's nicely done, but it's mostly just opinion.
The BBC and ITV haven't got all their regional variations converted to HD. This requires equipment and studios across the country to be upgraded. They are only upgrading as money can be found or they were due to be replaced anyway. They are also wanting the penetration of HD Freeview equipment to hit a certain percentage before they set a date. That will take however long it takes the public to naturally renew their equipment. This is also the case with Digital Radio, and that isn't going to happen any time soon in that particular case.
COM4/5/6 will likely not think about switching until the Public Service Broadcasters have publicly commited to a timetable.