Category: Terrestrial TV

Here you can find posts relating to terrestrial TV platforms (via aerial), such as Freeview in the United Kingdom, and Soarview in the Republic of Ireland.

Sky Arts to Go Free-to-Air

Sky Arts, an arts and culture channel from broadcaster Sky is to become free-to-air in September.

Not only will the channel become available to more satellite viewers, but the channel will also join the Freeview terrestrial platform, as confirmed by the Ofcom license published this morning (28th July 2020).

The Freeview multiplex is yet to be confirmed, but previous speculation has suggested Sky Arts may replace Challenge on Freeview, which is also owned by Sky.

The move follows the launch of several new Sky branded channels in recent months, as well as the re-branding of Pick to Sky Pick. Challenge is yet to re-brand.

New Merit Launch Date

ITV’s new channel Merit is now expected to launch at 8pm on Wednesday 29th July 2020, earlier than some expectations.

Details of the channel are still thin on the ground, but the channel is still expected to be a part time service. The 8pm launch time indicates that this is the regular start time, which is earlier than the 9pm to midnight timings previously reported.

Availability of the service beyond Freeview is still not known, although programmes should be available on the ITV Hub catch-up platform.

Merit Expected to Launch in September

Contrary to previous reports, ITV’s new channel Merit has not yet launched, and is now expected to launch in September, according to www.terrestrialtv.uk. A placeholder is currently broadcast on channel 34.

It is unclear if the channel will launch on other platforms, and little about the channel has been confirmed. There is a possibility the channel will be exclusive to Freeview, like CCXTV.

More details will be confirmed here when I receive them.

Further BBC News Job Cuts

The BBC is to make a further 70 job cuts in its news service, increasing to 520 from the 450 job losses announced earlier this year.

The increase in the job losses are a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has increased the financial pressures on the BBC. The jobs cuts include senior management positions.

Most of the BBC News output is being retained, but more content is to be shared amongst programmes both locally and nationally.

However, some high profile shows including the Victoria Derbyshire programme have been axed, although Victoria does remain as a BBC News presenter.

Arqiva Plans Mass Reduncies

A name which may be unfamiliar to some, Arqiva is the largest UK broadcast transmission company, and they are planning to make 500 staff (around a third of their workforce) redundant.

This forms part of a wider restructuring plan at the company, owned by a consortium of foreign investors.

Arqiva operate most of the TV and radio masts in the UK, as well as operating in other areas of transmission.

Some radio stations, including Rathergood Radio and Love Sport have complained about the high costs of Arqiva’s services in recent years.

BBC Resumes Scrapping of Free TV Licenses

The BBC is resuming its plan to end free TV licenses for most over 75s from the 1st August.

From this date, only those on pension credit will get a free TV license, meaning 3 million households will now have to pay the charge.

Free TV licenses had previously been funded by central government, but this responsibility has more recently bee transferred to the BBC.

The new scheme will still cost the BBC £250 million a year, but this is considerably less than the previous scheme at £745 million a year. Continuing the previous scheme would have caused considerable cutbacks, damaging the wider BBC as a whole.

Merit Launch Triggers Reshuffle, Now 70s Returns

ITV are launching a new part time channel tomorrow (8th July), triggering a channel number reshuffle.

Merit will broadcast from 9pm to midnight on Freeview channel number 34. ITV3 +1, currently on channel 34, will move to channel 58,  in turn forcing ITV Be +1 down to channel 97. Both ITV3 +1 and ITV Be +1 are part time channels, which are likely to reduce hours to accommodate Merit.

The exact programme line-up is currently unknown, but Merit will specialise on cookery and gardening programmes. It is also unclear if the channel will join other platforms.

Additionally, Now 70s is returning to Freeview, still on channel 78, but coverage is limited to the Manchester area.

BBC Premier League Record, Success for Hamilton on Disney+

Attracting a peak audience of 5.7 million, the BBC has set the record for the most viewed Premier League game with their broadcast of Southampton vs Manchester City. The previous record was set by the Manchester United and Manchester City derby game in 2012, which was viewed by 4 million.

Although not normally a rights holder for live premier league games, the BBC is showing 4 games live due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Disney’s switch of the release of the musical Hamilton to its Disney Plus platform appears to have been successful, with data from Apptopia showing the app had been downloaded 513,323 times over the July the 4th weekend. The recording of the Broadway musical was scheduled for cinematic release.

Additionally, there have been 71.5 million worldwide downloads of the Disney Plus app since launch. This figure excludes India or Japan, where the service has been integrated into existing apps.

Cuts to Regional BBC Services

The BBC are cutting some regional TV shows, in order to cut costs. 450 job losses are expect, with the axing of inside out the most prominent move.

Regionally news bulletins on the Breakfast programme (BBC One) will return, although a date for this has not been announced. All 6.30pm news bulletins will have a single presenter going forward. The regional politics programmes will be reinstated, but with a new format to reach a wider audience.

Inside Out, which has 11 regional variations will be replaced with a new investigation programme, from 6 larger regions. The unnamed programme will focus on single investigation per programme, rather than three 10 minute long segments.

Perhaps the biggest changes are at the local radio stations in England, which will retain the standard blocks of 4 hour long programmes introduced initially as a temporary measure back in March. Local programmes will be retained between 6am and 10pm, with a new national late show planned for 10pm to 1am. All shows will have 1 presenter only.

Some of the cuts are necessary due to the delays in reintroducing TV license charges for the over 75s, and the cost of covering the licenses for those on Pension Credit.

Freeview COM8 is Switched Off

The Freeview COM7 and COM8 multiplex reshuffle has now been completed, with the COM8 multiplex now switched off. Both multiplexes were temporary multiplexes, to provide additional Freeview capacity between the digital switchover and launch of 5G services.

As a result of the COM8 closure, some +1 and HD services have left Freeview, although the normal versions of the channels continue. COM7 continues for the time being, accommodating services such as Forces TV and Freesports, along with Quest HD and additional BBC HD services.