Options
Channel 5 HD on Freeview - whats the latest?
Sorry if this has been covered, but its not easy to search the words channel 5 HD and bring up the relevant thread.
Anyway, the question .. whats the latest in terms of Channel 5 HD appearing on Freeview. If I recall under the old management they opted not to launch anything and therefore forfited their slot. But now that Desmond & Co are running things I'm wondering what the new owners postion is on launching in HD on Freeview? Assuming they now want to go ahead, when is the earliest we are likey to see it?
Anyway, the question .. whats the latest in terms of Channel 5 HD appearing on Freeview. If I recall under the old management they opted not to launch anything and therefore forfited their slot. But now that Desmond & Co are running things I'm wondering what the new owners postion is on launching in HD on Freeview? Assuming they now want to go ahead, when is the earliest we are likey to see it?
0
Comments
I actually don't really watch much C5, but I do have a new Freeview HD capable TV and if I were to succumb to watching the new series of Big Brother on C5, then it would have been nice to watch it in glorious HD. Nevermind ..
Also whilst a 5th channel would completely fill the available HD bandwidth available right now doesn't mean that will be the last channel. It just needs another MUX to convert to DVB-T2 and then you have some more available. Bound to happen at some point in the future when they think enough people have DVB-T2 capable PVR's and TV's that it wouldn't annoy too many people.
I watched C5-HD on Sky for a year or so before I cancelled Sky and just went with Freeview only. There is actually quite a lot. Depends on what you watch. Stuff like restaurant/hotel inspector was HD. Any films they show are usually HD.
Actually I could still get C5-HD if I use the Sky box as it works without a subscription but I can't be bothered to turn it on now I have a freeview PVR.
This time the cost will be only 1/5 - 20% of PSB-3 down from the present 1/4 - 25% of PSB-3.
When PSB-3 is fully used and with already 2 million DVB-T2 receivers in the UK and after the London Olympics and the final DSO - it will more be "which mux next?" and "do we really need much simulcast?"
Lars
Their slot was given to the BBC instead - adding a fifth HD channel will just further reduce the quality of the HD channels
IIRC, the original idea was for there to be 5 HD channels - it was expected that four would be the maximum for the first few years, then predicted encoder improvements would allow room for a fifth with not much visible loss in quality.
Whether or not that happens in practice, though, is another matter...
It isn't guaranteed to be C5 HD, they might not even apply for it this time.
Don't joke, they're building a new HD studio complex in Hammersmith !
It could depend how cost effective it is to make this available on freeview with the cost of channel space being fairly high equally there may not be much call for it at this time relative to the extra income the HD channel may generate.
It's unlikely to generate any income, far more likely it would simply drain money from CH5 - hence them declining the slot.
The slot on the T2 HD mux is still up for grabs, they can bid for it if they wish, but they've turned it down on past auctions
http://www.cable.co.uk/news/bbc-invites-bids-for-fifth-freeview-hd-slot-801336331/
Current speculation is that E4 or Film 4 are most likely to win the slot
I'd much prefer keeping BBC HD
(for mix of CBEEBIES & CBBC also BBC Three & BBC Four)
& the incoming BBC Two HD for the whole of the UK
(basically no regional opt outs anymore)
All 24 hrs preferably so repeats through the nights for programmes not simulcast.
Licence fee should be worth it. This would help.
I must just say that the above won't happen unfortunately.
Also remember Five were the only ones interested last time around so there must be a possibility that there will be no apllicants at all!
It would be interesting to see what the BBC would do in that scenario
Well it's supposed to be for PBS use but who knows: HD porn? HD shopping? :D
Well, if no-one's interested ......
And the BBC would have certain standards to adhere to anyway.
Really OFCOM need to say to Channel 5 if you don't use now we will offer to ITV or C4. Although ITV want pay revenue for their other HD channels.
As others said my preference would be to keep BBCHD along with BBC1HD and BBC2HD.