S4C to launch new block of kids’ programmes

S4C will significantly increase its broadcasting hours from June with the launch of a new block of programming for nursery age children. The station will start broadcasting from 07:00 (rather than noon) to broadcast a six-and-a-half hour block of shows for pre-schoolers. Last year, the Welsh broadcaster launched a consultation on kids television, suggesting a proposal to launch a dedicated children’s channel. The channel could utilise sister channel S4C Two for programming aimed at older children, which will be extended in ‘phase 2’ of the channel’s plan.

NAO: Switchover budget £250million too high

The National Audit Office (NAO) has claimed that out of the budget for switchover assistance – £603million, to be funded via the licence fee – up to £250million could be left over at the end. The figure is based on the switchover process in Whitehaven, in which only one-third of eligible applicants applied for financial assistance with the cost of converting to digital. Their report also warns that not enough is being done to warn viewers that video recorders will also need to be upgraded.

Bulletin: Setanta cricket and DRM-free PS3 TV

After a frantic start to the year, it’s been a bit quiet in the world of DTT news this week. Setanta Sports have snapped up the rights to the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket competition. All 59 games from the tournament, which runs from April to the beginning of June, will be shown live and/or in primetime. Setanta are looking to add more summer sports to their line-up as the end of the football season approaches (and subscribers consider dropping the service for a few months). Meanwhile, Sony have confirmed that their upcoming “PlayTV” PS3-PVR device will allow users to transfer recordings to other devices with ease, because it will not use any form of DRM.

The Hits to be re-branded 4Music this year

Channel 4 will re-brand The Hits as 4Music later this year. Rumours last year suggested that the broadcaster would re-name the music channel last month. It has now been revealed that the change will occur later this year, when The Hits’ airtime sales contract with Sky expires. 4Music-branded programming will be shown on the channel from March.

Sony launch Freeview add-on for PlayStation 3

As deeteetee.co.uk reported in July last year, Sony are to release an accessory for the PlayStation 3 which adds Freeview PVR functionality to the games console. The twin tuner device, called PlayTV, connects to the machine’s USB port, and allows gamers to stream live television to their PlayStation Portable (PSP) device. A software update, currently under development, will allow the device to record programmes even when the console is being used to play games.

Rollercoaster week for digital radio

Digital radio has been dominating the headlines this week. GCap Media have decided to scrap DAB stations the Jazz and Planet Rock, leaving the future of DAB looking slightly less rosy than before. Stations Core and Oneword closed earlier this year. Meanwhile, Bauer (who bought out Emap’s stations last month) are considering launching their new station Closer on Freeview. A spin-off from the magazine of the same name, the station is due to launch on the new national DAB multiplex, but that’s been delayed and Bauer are keen to launch soon. They are also planning on re-launching Q (Freeview channel 716).

Ex-Digital UK chief: public deserve more services

The former head of Digital UK (the body responsible for overseeing switchover), Ford Ennals, believes that spectrum freed-up by the switchover process should be used to provide more digital services. Speaking at a conference to discuss the successful switchover in Copeland: “The public should reap the benefits in the form of additional services. They see it as a by-product of the investment they have made in switchover”.

CITV channel moves to multiplex A

The CITV channel has moved to multiplex A. The channel will remain on Freeview channel 75, but viewers will need to re-scan their digital receivers in order to continue watching the service… unless they receive the channel from a Welsh transmitter, in which case they will no longer be able to get the children’s channel from today. The move allows ITV4 to broadcast all day from tomorrow.

Emap radio stations change hands

Emap’s radio stations – identifiable on Freeview as those which share the same digital radio MHEG screen, and which include Smash Hits!, Magic and Q – are now operated by Bauer following their sale last year.

Wales to lose CITV channel

Viewers in Wales will no longer be able to receive the CITV channel from tomorrow, February 5. The children’s channel will be moving into the space vacated by the defunct ABC1, which was also unavailable from transmitters carrying S4C. The “equivalent” slot in Wales is used by Bid TV between the same hours, 06:00 to 18:00. The move allows ITV4 to broadcast 24 hours a day nationwide.

DTG condemns Ofcom’s HD plans

The Digital Television Group has condemned Ofcom’s proposals for squeezing High Definition services on to Freeview. Back in November, Ofcom revealed they would not be reserving any extra spectrum for HD channels, and instead suggested converting one multiplex (B) in a HD-only service using a new broadcast format (such as DVB-T2). Channels currently carried on B would then be slotted into free slots on other (already pretty full) muxes. The DTG have argued that this idea is highly flawed, as it could jeopardise any future developments, and because it relies on assumed advances in technology, rather than tried-and-tested methods.

UKTV channels switch to widescreen

UKTV began broadcasting widescreen programming on its channels this morning. Although many widescreen programmes are still only available in 4:3 “letterbox” mode, the range of true 16:9 programming is set to increase over the next few months. Advertisement breaks and trailers are fully widescreen. DTT viewers with Freeview and Top Up TV will notice the changes on Dave and UKTVs History, Gold, Style and Food.

Switchover assistance: only 1 in 3 ask for help

Only one-third of Whitehaven and Copeland residents eligible for financial assistance with the digital switchover applied for help, it has been revealed. If such low take-up is replicated across the country, the final cost (being funded by the BBC) could be far less than the budgeted £600million: this could be returned as a licence fee rebate.

ITV4 to go 24 hours, CITV to move multiplexes

As deeteetee.co.uk reported earlier last week, ITV4 will begin broadcasting 24 hours a day from February 6. The CITV Channel is advising viewers that they will need to retune on the 5th in order to continue watching, suggesting that the channel will be moving into ABC1’s old slot on multiplex A (owned by ITV). This space is only available outside Wales, however, so the kids channel could be replacing Bid TV in the country. Possibly.

BBC Gaelic service will not launch on Freeview

The BBC Trust has given the BBC the green light to launch the new Gaelic-language service, but the corporation will not be allowed to launch it on Freeview because the cost – £4million for a slot in Scotland alone – is too high. The decision will be reviewed in 2010, when the service has been running for a while and Scotland approaches switchover.

Old-spec DTT boxes to lose services from March

An announcement on the Freeview website has revealed that pre-Freeview specification receivers will no longer be able to receive some services from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter from March. DTT receivers launched before the current set of standards for boxes was released (i.e. before the launch of Freeview) including models by Daewoo, Labgear and Triax, do not support newer transmission formats.

S4C want national Freeview slot

Welsh-language broadcaster S4C is asking for the necessary capacity to allow it to broadcast nationwide on Freeview after switchover. The broadcaster, which claims 122,000 people outside Wales currently watch S4C, is also still considering plans to launch a children’s channel (although it’s even less likely that this would make it onto DTT in the rest of the UK).

ITV4 to broadcast 24/7

According to listings issued by the Radio Times website, ITV4 will begin broadcasting a 24-hour schedule from February 6. ITV4 currently timeshares with the CITV channel on all digital platforms, however the children’s channel is showing a full 12-hour schedule for the day, too. ITV have one spare stream on Freeview, currently used for ITV2+1 which could be used to carry both services on DTT.

Confirmed: UKTV to broadcast in widescreen

UKTV have confirmed that they will begin broadcasting widescreen programming in widescreen from January 31. A statement on the broadcaster’s website reassures viewers that programming shot in 4:3 will not be stretched or cropped (which is an example that all broadcasters should follow, so let’s hope they’re not lying).

Currys, PC World stop selling analogue TVs

Currys and PC World will no longer sell analogue television sets and DVD recorders without digital tuners when their current stocks run out, in favour of digital equipment. Which is nice.

Top Up TV launch 250GB Anytime box

Top Up TV have released a higher-capacity version of their Anytime personal video recorder (PVR). The new model features a 250GB hard drive, and is available for £130. With a subscription, the Anytime box allows customers to receive programming from a wide range of the most popular digital television channels, but can also be used as a ’standard’ Freeview PVR. The original 160GB box is still available for £100.

Dave begins widescreen testing

UKTV channel Dave began broadcasting selected programming in widescreen over the weekend. The tests are in preparation for the network’s anticipated switch to broadcasting in 16:9 on January 31.

Copeland Digital Group: Switchover a success

Last autumn’s digital switchover in Copeland was a success, according to a group of local organisations and services, the Copeland Digital Group. According to the results of their survey, practically all households managed to convert at least one of their sets to digital before analogue signals were switched off, and 95% of “second sets” were digital by mid-December. 60% of conversions were to Freeview.

The Hits to carry 4Music programming

The Hits is to broadcast a season of programming from Channel 4 from March. The announcement would appear to disprove rumours suggesting that Channel 4 – who have a 50% stake in The Hits’ owners, Box TV – would re-brand the channel under the 4Music name.