Satellite – Page 2 – All About Digital TV

Ideal World Ceases Broadcasts

Shopping channel Ideal World has ceased broadcasts, with the company entering administration. 250 staff are losing their jobs, whilst the channel is unlikely to return to TV screens.

DAZN Launches Linear Channel

Sports broadcaster DAZN, which specialises largely in boxing, women’s football, and other niche sports, has launched a linear channel on satellite.

Called DAZN 1, the new channel is currently exclusive to the Sky satellite platform, on channel number 429. The channel broadcasts in HD, as is the norm for sports channels. However, a DAZN subscription is required, costing between £100 and £240 a year depending on contract.

Until recently, DAZN had only been available as an online streaming service, and the expansion to satellite broadcasting forms part of plan to wide distribution.

BBC Football Coverage to Resume

As covered in mainstream media, a high profile dispute between the BBC and Gary Lineker resulted in significant coverage to football coverage of the weekend (11th/12th March 2023). The dispute resulted from opinions expressed on the presenter’s personal social media account relating to current government policy.

ITV to Close CITV

ITV is to close it’s dedicated children’s TV channel in favour of moving content over to it’s new ITV X online streaming platform.

HD Upgrade for BBC Alba

BBC Alba, operated jointly by the BBC and MG Alba, is now available on satellite in HD for the first time.

Now Rock Launches

All Around the World Productions (AATW), who broadcast 4 music video channels using the Now and Clubland brands, have changed their line-up. Following the temporary festive music service which replaced Now 90s over the Christmas and New Year period, instead of reverting to Now 90s, a new Now Rock channel was launchedin its place.

Government Changes Direction With Channel 4

The UK Government have (for now at least), scrapped the controversial move to privatise Channel 4 Television (Channel 4)corporation, abandoning the plan put forward by former culture secretary Nadine Dorries.

That’s TV Grows with Decade Based Music Channels

That’s TV continues to grow its classic music service, and has rolled out 4 new decade based music channels, expanded on the music service offered at various times of the day on the main That’s TV channel. However, coverage is limited at the time being, with neither channel offered to cable (Virgin Media) subscribers. The new channels collectively replace Classic Hits, itself a rebrand of That’s TV Gold.

Like Buses, The News Stories Come All at Once…

Very much a post of just reminding readers that I’m still here, this one. Over the past few weeks, I’ve accrued details on a few significant changes in the TV world. Some stories I’ve held back on due to incomplete information or a lack of author direct observations, others delayed simply due to a lack of hours in the day.

GB News Introduces Subtitles

New based opinion channel GB News has introduced subtitles for the first time.

Implemented around a month ago (but missed by the author until now), the system is based around automatic speech recognition alongside human intervention, to provide live subtitling with a claim accuracy of 98.5%.

The channel’s license from regulatory Ofcom does not yet mandate subtitles or other accessibility features, but the channel has brought these in voluntarily. A statement from CEO Angelos Frangopoulos states, “While we always planned subtitles, we brought them forward when viewers contacted us in their hundreds to request better accessibility to GB News.” (Source: Media Mole, January 2023, unverified).

GB News is available on most major TV platforms, including via satellite (Sky and Freesat), cable (Virgin Media), and terrestrial (Freeview – limited coverage). An additional audio only feed is available on DAB+ digital radio in most areas.