Month: August 2019

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.

Ireland: Virgin and Eir to Carry Each Others Sports Channels

In Ireland, Eir and Virgin Media have aggreed a deal which will see their sports channels become available on each others platforms.

Virgin Media Sport will become available to subscribers to of Eir’s sports pack. In return, Virgin Media subscribers will be able to view Eir’s sports channels in Ireland.

The new agreement will come into effect in time for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on September 20.

Eleven Sports Suspends Subscriptions

Eleven Sports has suspended subscription payments for UK customers, following the loss of La Liga rights. The La Liga rights failed to sell, and a permanent deal has to be agreed with ITV4 showing some matches as a temporary measure.

Eleven Sports were unable to secure a carriage agreement for a service on a traditional TV platform, following the launch of the online service in 2018. As a result, the channel lost most of its rights to a variety of international football leagues. The last remaining rights were the La Liga matches, for which a basic £4.99 subscription fee was charged.

Eleven Sports has advised customers that the subscription fees have been suspended pending clarification of the La Liga rights beyond the first three matches day. Eleven Sports services in other countries continue unaffected.

Sky to Launch New Channels

Sky has announced two new channels, both to be available on the Sky satellite platform and via the Now TV Entertainment Pass.

First to launch is Sky Crime, in October 2019. This channel will show US crime shows from Oxygen and HBO, and first run content from Jupiter and Woodcut. Sky Comedy will follow in February 2020, and will show content from HBO, NBC and Showtime.

Sky subscribers will receive these channels at no extra cost. As yet channel numbers are yet to be confirmed, and it has not yet been announced if these channels will be available on any other platforms. There is also some speculation that the new channels might be replacements for Real Lives and Sky 2.

Alongside a variety of Sky branded channels, Sky’s channel line up also includes the E!, SYFY, Pick and Challenge brands. Challenge and Pick can both be found on free to air platforms Freeview and Freesat.

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.

Further Cuts to TV Player Streaming Service

Yet more channels have been removed from the TV Player online streaming service. The following channels have been removed entirely:

  • BET
  • Clubland
  • Total Country
  • NOW80s
  • BBC Red Button, BBC Parliament, and BBC Alba
  • Showcase
  • Fashion TV
  • S4C
  • Together
  • France24
  • NHK
  • Euronews
  • TRT World
  • Al Jazeera English
  • Russia Today (RT)

Additionally, premium channel Baby TV has also been removed. The changes have taken place in the past week.

Some of the affected channels can be streamed on their own websites.

Note: Going forward, TelevisionSRS will regard TV Player as a minor/insignificant broadcaster/platform. As such, future news posts will be limited, and TV Player will not be included within the resources section.

Viamux Offer Free Small Scale DAB Workshops

Viamux have partnered with industry website Radio Today to offer free regional small scale DAB workshops.

The sessions will offer guidance on how to set up and run a DAB+ multiplex, as well as advice on writing license applications, funding equipment, and finding partner stations.

A live demonstration of software-defined radio also forms part of the sessions.

The first workshops are; Belfast on Saturday 14th September, Edinburgh on Saturday 28th September, and
Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Saturday 5th October​

For more details, visit the Viamux website at www.viamux.com/workshops.html

New CBS on Demand Players for Freesat

The CBS AMC UK Channels Partnership has launched new on demand players on the Freesat platform. Horror Bites and CBS Catchup Channels UK allow viewers to view content from Horror Channel, CBS Reality, CBS Justice and CBS Drama through their compatible Freesat set top box.

Viewers can catch up on programmes for up to 30 days from when first broadcast on the linear channels. Box sets and CBS Reality original programming are also available to stream.

The CBS AMC UK Channels Partnership is a joint venture between AMC Networks International and CBS Studios International.

Half of UK Homes Subscribe to Streaming Services

According to Ofcom’s Media Nations 2019 report, around half of all UK homes now subscribe to at least one online TV streaming platform. In 2018, there was a total of 19.1 million subscriptions, with many households subscribing to more than one services.

The UKs public services broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C) showed over 100 times more original, homegrown shows than the overseas streaming platforms.

Traditional viewing still accounts for around 69% of total TV viewing time, although this continues to drop. Despite the drop, public services broadcasters share remained steady at 52%.

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).