30 July 2009

"Remember to Retune" on 30 September

Freeview are to launch a campaign entitled "Remember to Retune" to inform and remind viewers that they will need to rescan for digital services on 30 September 2009, when there will be a shake-up of channels 'behind the scenes'. Although there will be no alterations to the Freeview channel line-up, Five, ITV4 and BBC Radio stations will be switching multiplexes.

28 July 2009

Nationwide re-tune planned for Autumn

Every UK household with Freeview (including those who live in areas which have completed the digital switchover) will need to rescan their receivers this Autumn in order to continue receiving Five and a whole host of other services that will move from their current multiplex location to another to make way for future high definition broadcasts. No precise date has yet been confirmed.

27 July 2009

HD receivers in the shops "by end of year"

At least two high definition Freeview receivers will become commercially available by the end of the year, according to the Digital Television Group. The specification for HD-DTT boxes was published back in March, with the first broadcasts are set to start on December 2 from Winter Hill. It has also been revealed that iPlayer integration is also being encouraged, and that the launch of a Freeview+iPlayer service is currently under development.

16 July 2009

Teletext teletext to close

Teletext will stop broadcasting its news and information service from January next year. The service, which is available via ITV and Channel 4's channels on Freeview (plus Five on analogue, too), is no longer profitable. Whilst the Teletext name will not disappear completely – Teletext Holidays will continue to operate – its departure from our screens will mark the end of an era in British television.

Update: It's also been announced that S4C's text service, Sbectel, will also be closing on digital from September and on analogue at digital Switchover (obviously).

15 July 2009

Big Deal appears on Freeview

Big Deal has appeared on Freeview channel 37. Broadcasting on multiplex D, initial reports suggest that the channel will be timesharing with Create & Craft on the newly-launched slot between 22:00 and 05:00.

13 July 2009

S4C to move to multiplex 2

Freeview viewers throughout Wales must re-tune their equipment in order to continue to watch S4C from 9 September. The Welsh-language channel will be moving to multiplex 2 on that date, enabling those viewers who only have access to public service broadcasters' channels to watch, whilst also keeping room on multiplex B (its originally-planned home) for planned HD services. The move should also create space on multiplex A for Discovery's new channel, Quest.

09 July 2009

Discovery content leaves Top Up TV

Content from Discovery and Discovery Real Time is no longer available on Top Up TV Anytime. Downloads from the broadcaster ceased on June 30, and the channel logos were finally removed from the EPG today. To compensate lovers of factual programmes, content from National Geographic will temporarily be doubled to 12 hours a week.

04 July 2009

Create & Craft launches on Freeview

Shopping channel Create & Craft has appeared on Freeview channel 36. Officially launching on Monday 6 June, it is being carried in a brand new slot (the eighth) on multiplex D, and will broadcast between 08:00 and 13:00. The new slot will also be used by The Soviet Propaganda Channel Russia Today to broadcast between 18:00 and 22:00. There is no indication so far as to what other channels or services will make use of the spare capacity.

34. ESPN
35. Virgin 1+1
36. Create & Craft