Satellite – Page 3 – All About Digital TV

BBC Sets Target Date for BBC One Regions in HD

The BBC has set a target date of April 2022 to complete the roll out of BBC One regions in high definition (HD).

Regional versions of BBC One are already available in HD on Sky’s Glass online platform, Virgin Media (cable and internet delivered Virgin Media Stream) and BT TV, albeit in some regions this upscaled to HD. The target confirms the in intention to roll out BBC One HD to all regions on satellite and terrestrial based platforms, including Sky, Freesat, Freeview, and Youview.

This work will involve splitting the terrestrial (Freeview/Youview) multiplex PSB3 (also known as BBC B) into further regions, to allow each version of BBC One to broadcast terrestrially. This will also allow ITV to show all of their local regions in HD on Freeview, and will end the need for the red screen on BBC One HD advising viewers to switch back to the standard definition version.

Another part of the work required will see additional BBC One HD streams added on satellite, as each version of the channel needs a separate stream to broadcast, with the Sky or Freesat receiver selecting the relevant version of the area the viewer is located in. HD versions of BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC ALBA and BBC Parliament are also on their way.

Due to bandwidth restrictions, the BBC is understood to be planning to phase all satellite services from the DVB-S broadcast standard to DVB-S2. DVB-S2 is more efficient, but this will mean that users of older non-HD equipment will eventually lose access to BBC services, if they choose not to upgrade equipment. One benefit from this is that there will no longer be a need for standard and high definition duplicates on each channel. This will also affect BBC radio services broadcast on satellite, as these utilise leftover space not large enough for TV broadcasts.

More details will be published on this website as the plans develop.

ITV Drops HD Encryption – Part 2

Following my earlier post on ITV dropping encryption on HD (high definition) versions of ITV2, ITV3, and ITV4, it is now possible to confirm that new versions of the channels are now available on the Freesat EPG.

Occurring just a day after my previous post, users of Freesat HD compatible equipment can now find the HD version on the usual channel number for ITV2, ITV3, and ITV4. Only on version of each channel (not including +1 timeshifts) is on the EPG, meaning viewers will not see the effectively now redundant standard definition feed.

Users of earlier standard definition only equipment continue to see the standard definition version channel, again the channel numbers are the same before.

ITV Be and CITV remain standard definition only, for both Freesat and Sky viewers.

ITV Drops Satellite HD Encryption

ITV has dropped encryption on HD version of ITV2, ITV3, and ITV4 on satellite, opening these services up to more viewers.

The change means Sky viewers no longer require an active subscription, meaning ITV2 HD, ITV3 HD, and ITV4 HD can now be viewed free of charge. As yet, these versions haven’t joined the Freesat EPG, but can be manually tuned in (as is the case for generic satellite receivers.

Up until very recently although these channels were free to air in standard definition, the HD were exclusive to subscribers, a situation that continues with Channel 4’s spin-off channels including E4 and More 4.

Separately, Viaplay Xtra (recently rebranded from Freesports) remains free-to-air, and has not become encrypted as anticipated by the author. All of the above changes have been observed by the author, and verified by www.digitalbitrate.com.

Viaplay Confirms UK Launch

Following acquisition of the Premier Sports TV channels earlier this year, Viaplay Group has confirmed the upcoming launch of its own branded content.

Premier Sports 1 and 2 will continue largely unchanged, but will be rebranded to Viaplay Sports 1 and 2 respectively. Both will continue to be available to subscribers largely on both Sky (satellite) and Virgin Media (cable). Freesports, currently free-to-air on satellite (albeit not on Freesat EPG), will become Viaplay Extra and will broaden its programming beyond sports. It is likely that rebranded Freesports will become encrypted, following a brief period of encryption observed earlier in the year.

The re-brands will occur on the 1st November, coinciding with the launch of Viaplay’s streaming platform in the UK. This will include two packages, Films & Series which will be focused on Nordic storytelling with Viaplay and third-party content, and Total which adds the full sports line-up. These are priced at £3.99 per month and £14.99 per month respectively.

Music Channel Changes

A few changes have been or are being made to music channels. This will be a longish article, but I felt it wise to wait until I had the full details, rather than post multiple very short articles.

I shall begin with the easiest change, relating to terrestrial (Freeview) only. Now 90s has moved down to channel number 87, to allow for the new Earthx channel take over number 79 (an article on Earthx will follow later this week).

A little more complex, is that of Classic Hits (formerly That’s TV Music), which has resulted in increased coverage. On the Manchester only Freeview multiplex, Classic Hits has replaced Country Music Entertainment, giving a 24 hour service to the Greater Manchester area. The latter remains available on compatible internet connected devices, via the OnDemand365 streaming portal. The Manchester version is labelled Classic Hits MCR, and has taken Classic Hits original number 91.

The part-time version of Classic Hits continues, but now broadcast from 4am to 7am, instead of 1am to 7am. This allows That’s TV (UK) to extended it’s broadcast hours to 4am, with both services continuing to timeshare. The UK version of Classic Hits has taken over Country Music Entertainment’s channel number 88, benefitting from a slightly higher and more prominent EPG position.

In addition Classic Hits has also launched on satellite, and can be found on Sky channel number 366. The service is free to air, and can be manually tuned in to other satellite receivers, but is not yet available on the Freesat EPG.

Trace Urban, Trace Latina and Trace Brazuca have joined the Channelbox streaming platform, which can be accessed via the portal on Freeview channel number 271 and via mobile phone apps.

Lastly, Spotlight TV (formerly Keep It Country) have now confirmed the channel is leaving the Sky and Freesat platforms, on or around the end of August. The channel is looking to join the above mentioned Channelbox platform, although at the time of writing has not yet done so. The channel was for a time the only music channel on the Freesat platform, and has blamed the decision on the methods used to calculate viewing figures. The channel is expected to continue in a more limited, and largely online based form.

Small Scale DAB Roll-out Progress

Unfortunately, time is not always on my side, so digital radio reports tend to focus on larger radio stories. It is not the intention to cover the small-scale DAB roll out in any great detail, but I would like to summarise progress to date.

After lengthy trial periods, and Ofcom eventually issuing permanent licenses, some of the small-scale DAB multiplexes are entering service. Most stations have opted to use DAB+, with mixed sound quality provided.

In the North East, the Tynemouth and South Shields multiplex had the honour of being the first to launch. A mix of local and space filler (small nationally aimed stations using small-scale DAB to expand coverage) services are broadcast. 18 stations in total are broadcast, all using 32 kbps DAB+, giving both poor audio quality and a lot of wasted bandwidth.

Newcastle and Gateshead has also launched, quietly at the start of July (2022). Some stations are yet to join, but all 4 community stations on FM in the area will be broadcast. Again DAB+ is in use, but at 48 kbps for all stations, better audio quality is on offer. All but one of the stations currently broadcast on the Newcastle and Gateshead multiplex originate from within the North East.

The multiplex for Salisbury was the second of the completely new multiplexes to launch. Largely using DAB+, 4 stations on this multiplex are using the incredible low bit rate of 24 kbps, giving poor to appalling sound quality. They will be named and shamed as AspenWaite Radio, Boom Light, and the Salisbury versions of Hot Radio and Hot Gold. Two versions of Greatest Hits Radio are broadcast, but carrying near identical programming, with one in 32 kbps DAB+ and the other in 80 kbps mono normal DAB. Like the Tynemouth and South Shields multiplex, a large number of space filler services are broadcast, and poor audio quality and poor utilisation of bandwidth available are the order of the day.

Lastly, I understand the Edinburgh multiplex has soft-launched over the past couple of days, but I don’t have further details to share at the time of writing. The Birmingham trial multiplex has successfully converted into the Birmingham North multiplex, and the Cambridge trial multiplex has also made the conversion to permanent multiplex. Inverclyde won’t now launch, as the license has been revoked.

CBS Dropped from UK Channels

The CBS name is being dropped from UK channels, as the former AMC Networks and CBS UK joint venture disbands. There will still be four channels, but CBS Drama and CBS Justice will come to an end. A precursor to the more widespread changes came earlier this year, when CBS Justice and Horror swapped channel numbers on Freeview. Horror moved from channel number 69 to 41, with CBS Justice making the opposite move.

Now, widespread changes are being made, with the CBS name being dropped, as Paramount Global (owners of CBS and other brands) gradually restructures. The changes have been timed to coincide with the closure of the COM7 Freeview multiplex on the 30th June (2022).

Horror, which already shows sci-fi programmes, will be replaced by Legend and Horror Extra. Legend will broaden Horrors reach to complimentary genres such as action, and increased amount of sci-fi programmes. Horror Extra will be a part time channel, focusing on horror movies and TV shows post watershed. On Freeview, Legend will take over the slot currently occupied by Horror, but on Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media, will replace CBS Justice when it closes.

Horror Extra will take over Horror’s existing slots on satellite (Sky/Freesat) and cable (Virgin Media), but is not expected to be available on Freeview. Horror currently has a +1 version on these platforms, which Horror Extra will inherit.

CBS Reality will continue unchanged initially, but is expected to become Reality in due course. CBS Drama, itself no longer solely devoted to drama shows, will become Reality Extra. It is understood, that there will be no schedule changes, beyond the name change, but Reality Extra will have reduced coverage on Freeview.

The changes have been timed to coincide with the closure of the COM7 Freeview multiplex on the 30th June (2022).

Note: I became aware of the changes to the above channels a week or so ago, but have only recently had sufficient sources (and time) to be able to adequately cross reference the changes.

Forces TV to Close

BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service, has decided to close its Forces TV channel. Forces TV currently broadcasts news for the armed forces, alongside archive entertainment programmes, which has attracted a significant audience from outwith the armed forces.

Forces TV was due to lose its terrestrial Freeview coverage from 30th June, as the channel broadcasts on the COM7 temporary Freeview multiplex. The broadcaster has revealed on its Forces.net website, that options to continue broadcasting on the platform were not viable to BFBS, which is charity run.

This in turn appears to have sparked a wider review into the channel, with the broadcaster concluding it is also no longer financially viable to operate the channel on other platforms. Therefore, on the 30th June (2022), Forces TV will cease broadcasts on Freeview, cable (Virgin Media), and the Sky and Freesat satellite platforms.

Forces News and other military specific content will remain available on the Forces.net website, and other online platforms. Other services operated by BFBS will remain unchanged, with BFBS continuing with its remit to inform, entertain, and educate British forces communities around the world.

Forces TV has been on-air for a total of 8 years, having launched on the 10th June 2014 on Sky, Freesat, and Virgin Media. Freeview coverage followed around a year later. At the time, the organisation operating the channel was know as the Services Sound and Vision Corporation, which has now restructured as BFBS.

E4 Extra and a Return to Music for 4 Music

Channel 4 have unveiled changes to their entertainment and music channel line-up, including an E4 spin-off, and a return to full-time music programming for 4 Music. The changes will take place on the 29th June (2022).

In a press release later followed by promotion on E4, Channel 4 have unveiled an new spin off channel, E4 Extra. E4 Extra will sit alongside the current main E4 channel, and will largely broadcast re-runs of comedy and entertainment shows. This includes acquired programmes such as The Big Bang Theory and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as well as Derry Girls and The Inbetweeners both produced originally for Channel 4. Legendary, the reality vogueing competition which explores ball culture in the USA, will also move to E4 Extra.

E4 Extra will actually replace 4 Music, currently available on terrestrial platorm Freeview (channel 31, 90% coverage on main transmitters only), cable platform Virgin Media (channel 337), and satellite platforms Sky and Freesat (channels 139 and 181 respectively). It is unclear what programmes E4 will be left with, but it would appear that E4 will focus on reality programmes such as Below Deck and Married at First Sight, as well as premiere showings of Hollyoaks.

4 Music itself will continue, and will in turn replace Box Hits, with the latter permanently closing.. 4 Music is currently a hybrid music and entertainment channel, but will revert to its original format of full time music videos. However, the channel will lose Freeview coverage, and will become available on satellite platforms Sky and Freesat (channels 354 and 501 respectively), and cable platform Virgin Media (channel 336).

The Box Plus portfolio (wholly owned by Channel 4), will reduce to the 5 channels (4 Music, The Box, Kerrang, Kiss, and Magic), although with the creation of E4 Extra the total number of Channel 4 owned channels remain unchanged.

A New Hybrid Future for Talk Radio

Talk Radio, the speech based station from Wireless Group (owned by News UK), will become a hybrid TV and radio channel with the launch of Talk TV. The development of the channel has been forming discussion for sometime, but there are now enough confirmed details for a full news article.

Talk Radio have been streaming an online TV channel Talk Radio TV for some time now. Largely, this comprises the same audio feed as the station on DAB+, with the addition of a studio video feed, and a scrolling news ticker. Daytime content will be carried over to the new hybrid service largely unchanged.

Screenshot of Talk TV website, 21/04/2022.

In the evenings, new primetime shows will be added, hosted by well known names such a Sharon Osborne and Piers Morgan. The audio for these will be rebroadcast on Talk Radio, but will be broadcast from new TV studios.

A website has now appeared online, but helpfully this only confirms the start date of the new Talk TV service, which is the 25th April (2022). Channel availability confirmed so far includes terrestrial Freeview on number 237, satellite platforms Freesat (217) and Sky (526), and cable platform Virgin Media (number not yet confirmed).

NB. All channel numbers confirmed are based on details obtained from platform websites or direct observations.