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.

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.

CCXTV and Hochanda Frequency Moves

CCXTV (channel 23) has moved frequencies on Freeview, from the COM5 multiplex to COM4. Hochanda (channel 85) has made the opposite move. A re-tune may be required to re-instate the channels, with the old version temporarily available on channel numbers 784 and 785.

Hochanda is also extending its broadcast hours from 7am to 7pm, to 7am to 10pm. As the channel time shares, the frequency move is likely to be required in order to facilitate the broadcast hours extension.

Additionally, I understand that Yesterday +1 is likely to be extending its broadcast hours to full time, but this is unconfirmed.

Freeview Shuffle Completes

The Freeview channel multiplex reshuffle has taken place, and in addition to the previous news posts, the following has now been confirmed.

A new video stream has opened on the BBC B (PSB3) multiplex, allowing Shopping Quarter to move without needing to replace an existing channel. Although not in HD, a DVB-T2 receiver (Freeview HD or Freeview Play) is required to view the channel.

Freesports, Now 80s, and Forces TV have moved to COM7, as per the original plan, and contrary to the most recent news post. The moves to COM 5 and 6 are still expected in the future, as these are the only channels (except HD and +1 duplicates) not on a permanent multiplex

Further Freeview Changes

Pick +1 has been removed from Freeview (around 12pm), and was broadcast on COM7, one of the temporary multiplexes.

I also have further information, though not yet confirmed by other news sites, that Freesports, Forces TV, and Now 80s are also moving from the temporary multiplexes. The expect changes are summarised below, and are due to take place on the 22nd June.

Channel (No.) Current Multiplex Expected Change
Forces TV (93) COM8 Move to COM6
Freesports (64) COM8 Move to COM5
Now 80s (86) COM8 Move to COM6

All three channels had expected to move to temp. multiplex COM7 when COM8 closes. However, these channels are one of only a few non +1 of HD channels broadcast on COM7/COM8, and the move to permanent multiplexes suggest that COM7 is also expected to close soon.

Changes for Pick Ahead of Live Football

Sky owned Pick has made a few changes ahead of the broadcast of live football from Friday.

The most noticeable change is a tweak to the brand, with the Sky Pick name being adopted, along with a new logo in the corporate Sky style. This is likely to be the first time viewers will have been made aware of the channel’s owners.

New high-definition (HD) feeds have appeared. On satellite, a new HD outlet has opened, and is available on both Sky and Freesat on a UK spot beam, without encryption.

The use of a UK spot beam is crucial, as the Premier League (and other sports) have carriage deals with other broadcasters in other countries. Therefore, if the channel was carried on a Europe wide beam, it would need to be encrypted to protect the rights of other broadcasters.

This means that the standard definition version on Freesat will not carry football, as the channel is available on a Europe wide footprint. Additionally, the +1 timeshifts on both Sky and Freesat will also not carry football, neither will the Irish versions of the channel.

On Virgin Media, Sky Pick has switched to HD, although viewers may not immediately be aware as the HD suffix has not been added to the channel name.

COM8 Closure and Freeview Reshuffle

Temporary Freeview multiplex is to close on the 22nd of June, as part of the clearance of frequencies for future 5G mobile phone services. Some services are moving to the other temporary multiplex, COM7, whilst some +1 and HD (high definition) channels are closing.

Due to the nature of the channels closing, most viewers will be unaffected, as there is already and alternative version of the channel available. Additionally, the temporary multiplexes offer limited coverage on newer DVB-T2 devices only, further reducing the number of viewers affected.

Although some recievers may make some of the changes automatically, a re-tune is required in most cases, due to channels moving frequencies. A full re-tune will ensure you are viewing the correct version of the channel, as dual-transmission of some services will take place for a short amount of time.

The table below shows the full changes.

Channel (No.) Current Multiplex Expected Change
5 Star +1 (55) COM8 To close on 22nd June
5 USA +1 (56) COM7 To close on 22nd June
Freesports (64) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
CBS Reality +1 (67) COM7 To close on 22nd June
CBS Justice +1 (69) COM8 To close on 22nd June
CBS Drama (71) COM6 To be renumbered to 67 on 22nd June
Shopping Quarter (74) COM7 Moving to PSB3 (BBC B) on 22nd June (replacing TBN UK?)
Now 80s (83) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
Togther TV +1 (89) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
PBS America +1 (93) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
Forces TV (96) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
BBC Four HD (106) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
Channel 4 +1 HD (109) COM7 To close on 22nd June
4 Seven HD (110) COM7 To close on 22nd June
QVC HD (111) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
QVC Beauty HD (112) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June
TJC HD (115) COM7 To close on 22nd June
Cbeebies HD (205) COM8 Moving to COM7 on 22nd June

As can be seen, CBS Drama is being promoted further up the channel list, taking over channel number 67 from CBS Reality +1 when that service closes.

Other platforms are unaffected by the changes.

Free to Air Premier League

With the remaining Premier League football matches to be held behind closed doors, a number of broadcasters have announced they will showing games free to air.

The BBC will broadcast four games live, in addition to its Match of the Day highlights programmes. The channel to show these matches is not known, but is likely to be BBC One or the BBC Red Button service.

Sky owned free-to-air channel Pick will be showing 25 games live, with the first being Everton v Liverpool, which will also be simulcast on Sky Sports.

Amazon will be streaming 4 matches on its platform Amazon Prime platform, without the need for subscription. The exact matches are yet to be announced.

This leaves BT Sport as the only rights holder to have not announced any free to air coverage.

Including the free to air matches and those as part of subscription services, all remaining Premier League games will be televised live.

BBC to Resume Production

The BBC is to resume production of Top Gear and EastEnders, two of its popular entertainment shows. Both are expected to resume at the end of the month.

Strict social distancing measures will be in force, complying with current government guidelines. Crews will be limited, with cast members responsible for their own hair and make up.

Additionally, ITV panel show Loose Women has also resumed production. Following social distancing, there are only three panel members at the table. The remaining fourth member contributes via video link. For obvious reasons, there is no studio audience.

Sewing Street Launches

A sewing channel themed shopping channel has returned to Freeview channel 73, under the name Sewing Street. Sewing Street launched on Friday and is being operated by Gemporia who reacquired the Jewellery Maker channel from Immediate Media, after the latter decided to exit the TV market.

Channel 73 was previously home to Sewing Quarter which has now closed. Gemporia took over the Freeview slot, but not the Sky slot or the Sewing Quarter website. However, a Sky launch for Sewing Street is planned.

Sewing Quarter itself has now closed, but the management behind the channel have transferred to Sewing Street.