Terrestrial TV – Page 14 – All About Digital TV

BBC to Close Ceefax Replacement

The BBC is to close the Red Button digital text service, which allows viewers to access news and other information via their TV. Original a digital replacement for the analogue Ceefax system, the Red Button text service will close next year.

With the introduction of internet connected smart TVs, the BBC introduced a Red Button + service in 2012, which allows for text and images to be displayed. This will continue, but is only available on compatible TVs connected to the internet.

Due to financial pressures, it is no longer cost effective for the BBC to maintain two distinct versions of the Red Button service. The move will impact some viewers who have poor or no broadband facility, or an older television which does not support the Red Button + service,

Freeview Updates

Now 90s has left Freeview following the end of its 6 month carriage agreement. The channel had been on a multiplex covering around 3/4 of the UK. The channel is still on Sky and Virgin Media, and sister channel Now 80s can still be found on Freeview. Now 90s is looking to return to Freeview in the near future.

Meanwhile, BBC Scotland HD and BBC Four have changed channel numbers in Scotland. BBC Four can now be found on 75, and BBC Scotland HD is now on channel 108. The changes come as a result of the closure of Keep It Country, and the removal of the HD version of Al Jazeera.

ITV4 Continues LaLiga Partnership

The UK rights for LaLiga football failed to sell, however ITV are continuing an existing partnership for the first 3 match days as an interim measure.

Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona will be shown tonight (Friday) on ITV4 at 8pm, with FC Barcelona v Real Betis (8pm on Sunday 25th August), and Villareal CF v Real Madrid (8pm on Sunday 1st September) to follow. Highlights programmes will follow each match day.

A last minute alteration to darts coverage on ITV4 has been made, with the darts to be shown either side of the football.

ITV4 is on all linear TV platforms, with additional HD versions on Sky and Virgin media. Coverage of the LaLiga matches will also be available on the ITV Hub on-demand platform.

Retro Movies Joins Freesat and Channelbox

Retro Movies has now joined Freesat, and can now be found on channel 307. The channel shows movies from the early to mid 20th century, and was previously on available on Sky channel 327.

Retro Movies is now also available on Freeview streamed channel Channelbox, which can be found on channel 271. Viewers will need a compatible device connected to the internet in order to access Retro Movies through Channelbox.

Retro Movies is not currently available on Virgin Media (cable).

Sony Ditches True and Movies4Men Brands

Sony is to axe the True and Movies4Men brands as part of the latest changes to its TV channels.

True Entertainment will become Sony Channel, marking a reintroduction of that name. The existing programme line up will continue with additional shows.

Sony Movie Channels will reduce to simply Sony Movies. Movies4Men will become Sony Movies Action. True Movies will rebrand to Sony Movies Classic from January 2020, after a seasonal rebrand to Sony Movies Christmas.

It is unclear what will happen to the Sony Crime Channel.

Together TV Expands Freeview Coverage

Together TV has moved to a new frequency on Freeview, enabling coverage to expand from 75% of the population to 90% of the population. Viewers with older non-HD Freeview equipement will now also be able to view the channel.

Together +1 has launched using capacity on the old frequency, on channel number 93. Together +1 operates using DVB-T2, so viewers will need HD compatible equipment in order to view this channel.

For both channels, viewers will need to retune in order to receive them, although some equipment may do this automatically.

Together TV is a supporter owned channel dedicated to social change, and is also available on Sky, Freesat, and Virgin Media.

Travelxp Leaves Freeview for Sky

Been away on holiday for a week, so there have been no updates to TelevisionSRS lately. Thankfully, it appears that there is only one major to story to bring to you.

The UK version of Travelxp has closed on Freeview. The closure took place at 1pm on Monday 1st July.

The channel showed back to back travel documentaries, and is expected to return on the Sky satellite platform after a hiatus.

Update: Travelxp have confirmed the UK service will return on the 1st August on Sky.

Keep It Country Leaves Freeview

Country music television station Keep It Country has left Freeview, blaming the high cost of transmission on the platform.

However, from 1st July it will be included as a streamed channel on internet connected Freeview devices, as part of the Vision TV channel portal on channel 264.

The channel is also expect to rebrand to Spotlight TV on 1st July, with the name change reflecting the fact the other music genres now also form a part of the channel.

The Sky and Freesat service remains unchanged.

More Sony Channel Changes

Sony has made further changes to its television channels.

Children’s channel Pop Max has left the Comux multiplex that broadcasts the local television channels, but is continuing on other platforms.

The Sony Crime Channel is to become only available on Sky and Virgin Media. The channel has been withdrawn from Freesat, and will only be available on Freeview in Manchester (channel 60). From 1st July, the channel will refocus on factual programming, absorbing some of the content previously available on Sony Crime Channel 2, and True Crime.

Sony Crime Channel was launched 18 months ago, and replaced the Sony Channel.

True Crime Closure and Other True Changes

True Crime will leave Sky (satellite) and Virgin Media (cable), at the end of programming on the 30th June. The channel was reinstated in February, replacing the UK version of the TruTV channel. True Crime is also available on Freeview in Manchester, but it is unclear whether this outlet will continue.

Meanwhile on Freeview, True Entertainment and True Movies and will be reducing their coverage area from midday tomorrow. A re-tune will be required for viewers remaining within the coverage area to be able to continue to receive these services. However, both will gain a more prominent channel number with True Entertainment moving from channel 61 to 48, and True Movies moving channel 62 to 50.

Movies4Men+1 and Sony Movies+1 currently occupy slots 48 and 50 on Freeview (respectively), and it is unclear what will happen to these channels. A move to numbers 61 and 62, would seem likely.

All of the channels mentioned above are owned by Sony Pictures Television.