[Ray Cathode]

The BBC are switching off two of their interactive streams across Freeview from 27/10/09 and are preparing to lease out the spare unused capacity on Mux B. So much for Ofcon requiring C4 to let them have a slot!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...freeview.shtml

I can perhaps understand the need to switch off an interactive stream because of the lack of space, but Ofcon has required C4 to provide a slot for them! I can only assume that the BBC cannot afford the cost of carriage due to the HD investment.

But to find out that the BBC are preparing to auction off the space that 302 and 305 were using, is completely wrong. I would accept the loss of news Multiscreens but not 302 as well. It is and has been an essential channel for F1 coverage as well as many other sporting occasions.

This will start me leaning towards satellite where 8 BBC interactive channels are available.

It also makes a complete nonsense of the Ofcon HD consultation. Firstly no mention at all was made that any services would be cut, because they wanted everyone to accept the mean Ofcon plan that would take SD spectrum and convert it into HD, as opposed to providing new HD spectrum.

Then when the consultation turned into a regulatory statement, the fact was slipped in that one BBC interactive service would be lost.

Now we can see that even that was a lie and two BBC interactive services are going and unnecessarily too! It's a disgrace on Ofcon and the BBC. Liars and cheats.

[D.M.N.]

Breaking News, and very bad news for Freeview guys: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...freeview.shtml

The BBC is committed to launching HD broadcast channels on Freeview which involves rearranging the existing standard definition channels on that platform.

Part of this new arrangement involves switching off two of the three interactive streams it uses on Freeview to deliver Red Button content.

The switch off happens on the 27 October but Freeview viewers will still be able to see sport, music and entertainment on the remaining interactive stream.

Viewers will no longer see the BBC News Multiscreen and for other content including sport and music there will be less repeats with content played out in smaller blocks of time.

To copy what I put in the BBC F1 Coverage thread for those that don't visit there:

This means that there will now only be one F1 Red Button stream on Freeview, which will most likely only be highlights.

And if another sporting event clashes with F1, it means that the other sporting event will most likely take the only remaining channel, and thus F1 won't be on there.

This obviously though, affects other events apart from F1 though.

EDIT: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pressred/...freeview.shtml

[AngusMast]

You just beat me to it

[John259]

Bastards!

[mrdtv]

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode

The BBC are switching off two of their interactive streams across Freeview from 27/10/09 and are preparing to lease out the spare unused capacity on Mux B. So much for Ofcon requiring C4 to let them have a slot!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...freeview.shtml

NB this lease looks like it only applies in Mux B areas which have not been DSO'd. After DSO Mux B will be 40Mb/s and I bet they are trying to get HD services down to 8Mb/s with a view to a longer term HD simulcast of BBC1 and BBC2 with the other three PSB channels, getting rid of the BBC HD channel. In other countries HD simulcasts are becoming more and more commonplace.

[FM_Bandit]

This is disappointing and very much feels like a step back. The second interactive stream on 302 is often useful, particularly for snooker or other big events like Glastonbury. The interactive news screen also comes in handy for on-demand weather reports.

I'm not sure it's worth it for a HD channel that will require equipment upgrades that most people won't be bothered to shell out for anyway.

[pkc]

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Breaking News, and very bad news for Freeview guys: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...freeview.shtml

The news stream was kind of pointless, as it was only 4 qtr screen windows... and not really viewable.

[reslfj]

Originally Posted by mrdtv

NB this lease looks like it only applies in Mux B areas which have not been DSO'd.

How much capacity are we talking about ? 2 Mbps, 6 Mbps, more ?

Lars

[SkyPaulusPlus]

complete utter arseholes!! they should rename 302 to F1 Digital, or they might bring it back in march?

[a516]

Originally Posted by SkyPaulusPlus

complete utter a***holes!! they should rename 302 to F1 Digital, or they might bring it back in march?

why March?

[Ray Cathode]

Originally Posted by reslfj

How much capacity are we talking about ? 2 Mbps, 6 Mbps, more ?

Lars

It would be 2 video streams in pre DSO areas. Probably slapper channels as they are the only ones making money at the moment.

[stroudwater]

That is bad news. I use 302 and the multiscreen a lot.

Will they be coming back after DSO? The BBC press briefing does not say that they will.

I am really annoyed about this, but suspect that this may just be the thin end of the wedge, and that Freeview (free to view channels) will end up with very few channels ultimately. The big spectrum con conitinues.

[liveupdateking]

Time to get freesat/sky/cable for xmas

[Charnham]

this highlights the poor planning that went into freeview, and the subject of HD, along with the problems of selling off spectrum to the highest bidder. This is really not the fault of the BBC but its something its been forced into.

I assume the slots are not being sold off to make money for the BBC, but just used for HD.

[SkyPaulusPlus]

f1 is back in march after 1st november

[Ray Cathode]

Originally Posted by Charnham

this highlights the poor planning that went into freeview, and the subject of HD, along with the problems of selling off spectrum to the highest bidder. This is really not the fault of the BBC but its something its been forced into.

I assume the slots are not being sold off to make money for the BBC, but just used for HD.

The BBC & Ofcon both came up with the loony HD plan. It was opposed by ITV and C4. Unfortunately the first two are controlled by the government.

The slots are being sold off to make money for the BBC. There will be no HD on Mux B, just on post DSO BBC B and a few temporary allocations in high population areas.

There was capacity allocated for one of the interactive channels on C4 space, but this is not being taken up. Why not???

[a516]

Originally Posted by stroudwater

Will they be coming back after DSO? The BBC press briefing does not say that they will.

.

No, the multiplex carrying BBC Red Button will be the new HD multiplex.

BBC Red Button 301 moves over to BBC-A multiplex (the one that carries BBC1/2 etc). The other BBC Red Button streams can't move across, because there would be no more room (unless the BBC axed some of its TV channels!!).

[reslfj]

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode

It would be 2 video streams in pre DSO areas.

Is that 6-8 Mbit/sec ?

Lars

[a516]

Originally Posted by SkyPaulusPlus

f1 is back in march after 1st november

Any F1 interactive coverage will likely be on 301, but in a more limited capacity than this year's interactive coverage on Freeview.

The same could be said about other sporting events covered on the Red Button.

[brunobrookes]

This is shocking news. Next year's snooker world champs will be a shadow of previous broadcasts.

[liveupdateking]

Originally Posted by a516

Any F1 interactive coverage will likely be on 301, but in a more limited capacity than this year's interactive coverage on Freeview.

Where will Final Score go if Formula 1 is on the same time?

[Ray Cathode]

Originally Posted by reslfj

Is that 6-8 Mbit/sec ?

Lars

i suspect it will be limited to two streams because the BBC certainly won't be buying new encoders for a service that will expire in 2012. The capacity will not be available after DSO.

[a516]

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode

There was capacity allocated for one of the interactive channels on C4 space, but this is not being taken up. Why not???

Because we'd rather have C4+1 . Or maybe not....

And where will BBC Alba launch on Freeview in Scotland? The plot thickens.

[SkyPaulusPlus]

well i usually watch sky

[liveupdateking]

Originally Posted by brunobrookes

This is shocking news. Next year's snooker world champs will be a shadow of previous broadcasts.

Suggestions:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/f...splay.php?f=14
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/f...play.php?f=142
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7

We shouldn't have to but its the only option. Digital Spy might as well close the freeview section down because there be noone left here soon