Sky Text and FilmFour appear on Freeview

Sky Text has today appeared on Freeview channel 108, although the service is still available by pressing red on any Sky channel. Channel 31 has been re-named FilmFour (from More4+1) in anticipation of the channel’s July launch on Freeview.

“As-live” Premiership games via BT Vision

BT Vision, the Freeview-plus-broadband offering from BT, will carry pay-per-view “as-live” screenings of Premiership games when the new rights package begins in 2007. The games, from Sky’s broadcast package, will be available after the games at 22:00, and will be available for up to 50 hours after purchase.

Setanta Sports 1 to launch on DTT

English- and Scottish- Premier League sports broadcaster Setanta look to be bringing their flagship channel Setanta Sports 1 to DTT. They are expected to charge around £14/month for the new 24-hour channel, which also carries a range of other matches and sport.

Top Up TV Pay As You Go to close

Top Up TV’s £2-a-day Pay As You Go service will close on May 31. All credits/vouchers unused by this date will become void.

Big Brother interactive stream appears on 305

The interactive stream for this year’s Big Brother has appeared on Freeview channel 305; access to the channel’s video content is only available through a red-button prompt on Channel 4 or E4.

Freeview Playback brand to take on Sky+

The Freeview consortium is to launch a new brand to promote sales of Freeview PVRs (Personal Video Recorders). Freeview Playback logos will appear on PVR models from later this year as the nation prepares to replace old analogue video recorders. Like Sky+, PVRs allow users to pause and rewind live TV, and skip through the adverts in recorded programmes.

More4+1 leaves Freeview

More4+1 has left Freeview to make way for the Big Brother live streaming service. A placeholder on channel 31 advises viewers to tune to More4, and promotes the July launch of FilmFour. More4+1 launched on the platform on Christmas Eve 2005, and lasted only 4 months, 24 days!

Big Brother streaming, FilmFour storming

Reports suggest that Channel 4 will be broadcasting a live Big Brother stream on Freeview from the new series’ launch, only for the feed to be replaced by FilmFour on July 19. A test broadcast on E4 has revealed the service will replace More4+1.

Ofcom halt Freeview promotion bias

Media regulator Ofcom has lifted regulations which limit the amount of cross-promotion ITV, Channel 4 and five can broadcast for their digital services. They have , however, introduced a new rule which prevents the channels from promoting Freeview over other digital platforms.

BBC begin broadcasting HD trial

The BBC has begun broadcasting High Definition tests on digital terrestrial in central London. BBC HD1 may appear on Freeview boxes, but HD-compatible equipment is needed to actually see any pictures.