26 September 2005

More4 begins video testing

More4 has started to broadcast video on channel 13 (in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland)/35 (in Wales). The channel, which launches on October 10, is currently showing programme promotions.
Story: DTT Boxes

22 September 2005

Sky Three to replace Travel on Freeview

Sky Three, a new general entertainment channel from Sky, will replace Sky Travel on Freeview when it launches. On satellite, Sky Mix will be re-named Sky Two.
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15 September 2005

Government green-light switchover plans

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has confirmed that digital switchover will start in 2008 in the Border ITV region and be completed by 2012. Elderly and disabled people will be offered help from both the Government and the BBC to convert to digital. Almost two thirds of households now have some form of digital TV on at least one TV, but there are still large parts of the country that cannot receive a Freeview signal.
Story: DTT Boxes

14 September 2005

New BBC Radio screens

The BBC Radio MHEG screens have been re-designed. Each screen now shows the station logo and dynamic programme information. Pressing red allows listeners to check schedule information and get the latest news, sport and weather headlines.
Story: DTT Boxes

06 September 2005

More4, Toonami appear

More4 has appeared on Freeview channel 13 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Wales, the channel can be found on channel 35. The channel will launch on October 10. Meanwhile, Toonami, a new Top Up TV children's channel has appeared on channel 58. It is expected to broadcast at the weekends in place of financial channel Bloomberg.
Story: DTT Boxes

29 August 2005

Xtraview closed

The 'pay-per-day' channel Xtraview has now closed. The channel's broadcast space will be used by the Top Up TV channels being kicked off multiplex 2 by Channel 4.
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Quiz Call begins video testing

Quiz Call, the new quiz channel from Channel 4 has begun broadcasting video on channel 37.
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17 August 2005

ITV to launch children's channel

ITV will launch a new free children's channel within the next six months. Available on all digital television services including Freeview, it will timeshare with new men's channel ITV4. ITV4 launches on November 1.
Story: DTT Boxes

Quiz Call appears on Freeview

A placeholder has appeared on channel 37 for Quiz Call, a new quiz channel soon to be launched by Channel 4. 705, used to broadcast a live stream from the Big Brother house, has been removed from the EPG following the end of the series. More4 launches in October.
Story: DTT Boxes

06 August 2005

Xtraview to close

The Xtraview 'pay-per-day' Top Up TV service is to close on August 31. It is thought that Top Up TV's current channel capacity on multiplex 2 is being withdrawn by Channel 4, forcing them to move programming into the space currently used by Xtraview on multiplex A.
Story: DTT Boxes

31 July 2005

Setanta launches with ITV News timeshare

Setanta Sports' pay-per-view SPL football service timeshares with the ITV News Channel, meaning the latter is taken off-air during broadcast matches. The service is only available at present in the Scottish and Grampian regions.
Story: DTT Boxes

28 July 2005

ITV News Channel returns to Scotland

The ITV News Channel has now returned to the Scottish regions (not including Border).
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27 July 2005

Setanta to launch pay-per-view SPL

Digital Spy reports that Setanta Sports are to launch pay-per-view Scottish Premier League games on DTT. Initially only available in the Scottish and Grampian ITV regions from the end of this month, the service will be extended nationwide in the Autumn. Viewers will pay £6 to £8 per game, using the Xtraview system.
Story: DTT Boxes

11 July 2005

ITV News Channel returns to HTV regions

The ITV News Channel has now returned to transmitters in the (HTV) Wales and West regions.
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04 July 2005

ITV News Channel returns to South and East

The ITV News Channel has resumed broadcasting on Freeview in the Meridian and Anglia East regions. The remainder of the Anglia region, served by the Sandy Heath transmitter, is expected to receive the service again soon.
Story: DTT Boxes

07 June 2005

Smooth FM launches on Freeview

Smooth FM has launched on Freeview channel 88, replacing the now-defunct Jazz FM.
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06 June 2005

Teletext on ITV launches

Teletext on ITV has launched on Freeview: the service is now accessible by pressing "text" on ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, and the ITV News Channel. The service is incompatible with ex-ONdigital boxes.
Story: DTT Boxes

31 May 2005

Eurosport launches on Top Up TV

British Eurosport has replaced E4 in the Top Up TV line-up. Despite speculation that Paramount would replace E4, the sport channel will now broadcast on channel 49 between 14:00 and 23:00 daily.
Story: DTT Boxes

27 May 2005

E4 launches on Freeview

E4 has launched on Freeview channel 14, along with timeshifted sister channel E4+1. Previously a subscription-only channel, some viewers may need to rescan their digital receivers to view the new channels.

Jazz FM to close tonight

Much to the disappointment of jazz fans, Jazz FM closes on Freeview and 102.2FM in London at midnight tonight. The station will relaunch with a new format as Smooth FM on June 7 at 10:00. An automated service will replace the channel until then.
Story: DTT Boxes

Paramount favourite to top up Top Up TV

Digital Spy report that Paramount Comedy is the favourite to replace E4 on Top Up TV. The replacement channel will launch on June 1 on channel 49 (currently labelled "Top Up TV new channel").
Story: DTT Boxes

26 May 2005

E4s gear-up for launch

E4 has stopped broadcasting on subscription service Top Up TV in preparation for its launch on Freeview tomorrow at 14:00. E4+1 has started broadcasting video tests on channel 39.
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25 May 2005

Big Brother to stream live on 705

Channel 4 have confirmed that a live feed from the Big Brother house will be available on Freeview channel 705. The start of the new series of the reality show will also be marked by the launch of E4 and E4+1.
Story: DTT Boxes

New Freeview channels appear

Three new placeholders have appeared on the EPG: E4+1 on channel 39, "Top Up TV new channel" on channel 49, and 705 on, erm, channel 705. E4+1 launches on Freeview on Friday, along with E4 (channel 14) which will leave Top Up TV at 18:00 on the same day. Non-Top Up TV customers may have to wait until then to re-tune their receivers in order to view the channel.
Story: DTT Boxes