http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...039020.article


So have channel 4 brought a new freeview slot or will one of it channel close on freeview.

My money is E4+1 leaving DTT to be replaced by 4seven.

Maybe E4+1 will close to make way?

Can't say I'm particularly excited about it, and it'll be crap picture quality anyway.

Great. Maybe next we can have 4four with repeats of the repeats which will later be repeated on E4

I am not a fan of +1 channels but i would keep E4+1 and lose more4 as this new channel is doing almost the same job.

The logo for 4seven can be found here: http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/rss/...seven-channel/

On a related topic More 4 are sharing coverage of World Indoor Athletics with Channel 4 this weekend.

So 4seven is going to show programmes from Channel 4 that have created a 'buzz' over the past seven days. This will give people that missed them a third chance (after C4+1) to see them.

But if this is genuine, and not just C4 assuming in advance which programmes will create a 'buzz', there won't be time to get these programmes included in printed listings. So the chances are that you won't know when (or even IF) a programme will get a showing on 4seven.

I know there's the EPG, but it sounds like the schedule will be a bit last minute.

Erm... so you'd rather keep a +1 channel, that shows the exact same content as another channel but an hour later, than keep a channel which has a completely different schedule, some original content and repeats of things that weren't on merely an hour ago?

They may well have secured a new channel slot anyway; Arqiva will have some spares in post-DSO regions when the FEC change completes. Otherwise it is incredibly likely that E4+1 will get the chop.

@ndev70

I was thinking the same thing - chances are there won't be printed listings, which means I'm unlikely to ever watch anything on it.

I wasn't aware that there was any spare capacity post-DSO. The bit rate available for SD channels is identical pre-DSO and post-DSO (greater efficiency is counteracted by there only being 5 SD multiplexes instead of 6).

See http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1553271 (I'm not surprised you missed it!)

This change has already been used to reinstate Big Deal with longer hours on ARQ-B (mux D/COM6), and to bring the missing CITV/Zone stream to SDN (mux A/COM4) in Wales (there are other more human-friendly threads about these changes).

There should be a new stream available on SDN not-Wales from the end of June and ARQ-A (mux C/COM5) from the beginning of May.

The dates tie in nicely with C4's previously suggested launch of 1st June. As it has seemingly been pushed back, it might be that they were planning to replace E4+1 or launch on a new ARQ-B slot, but have secured a cheaper deal with SDN instead - C4 might not be too concerned if it isn't available in Wales given the nature of the channel.

I think 4seven would be better if it showed the "buzz generating" programmes from all of C4's family of channels, rather than just C4 itself. Whilst most "buzz" will come from the main channel, I think the odd gem on the digital channels could be brought out with this technique and help to promote More4 and E4 a little.

From the logo and the decription it doesn't look like they will be including those, which seems like a missed opportunity.

yes I think this will be instead of C4+1.

They could move their channels around the EPG so that 4seven occupies 28 - four multiplied by seven - though with the possible exception of Countdown viewers I doubt many would pick up on something as subtle as this, particularly the sort of viewer Channel 4 seems to be aiming most of its output at these days.

yes I agree I think that would be wasted on the general population.

People wonder why I have given up T.V, with rubbish like this and the other channels that repeat all their repeats, not worth the money


No sense at all, instead of getting more space on the platform to improve picture quality they just put more rubbish on it.

That seems a bit harsh - if it displaces an existing +1 channel, then all it's doing is swapping a channel of arbitrary repeats (everything 1 hour later) for a hand-selected set that will probably get scheduled to make them available to a broader range of viewers. At least in broadcast terms they're trying something different. I have much more of a problem with what they've done to More4...

You really believe that it will be hand selected? They will be selected by a computer, I doubt if any human thought will come into the selection at all.

Just another cheap channel, showing the same old rubbish time and time again. Channel 4 is as bad as the other channels, they show the odd good thing and then they just kill it by repeating it far too much


what have they done to More4? that was all repeats as well, they should have called it more 4 repeats.

I would think the decision on what to air, will be alot more to do with rights, than anything else.

That said I remember when Sherlock started, and I was unsure about it, internet buzz was great, so I figured I would give it a chance, yet the BBC did not offer a repeat anywhere besides iPlayer.

When a new drama like Sherlock starts, I dont think it would hurt to have a repeat for those who find out about it via online buzz.

No way, far too great a moneyspinner, E4+1 is much more vulnerable.

you may well be right, but it seems odd to me, having two channels repeating C4 shows, instead of E4+1 & 4seven, you have, C4+1 and 4seven, which is even more of the same.

4seven and e4+1 would mean a better variety of repeats

E4+1 is one of the best performing +1s achieving about 50% of E4 BARB ratings although that is across all platforms, so I don't know whether Freeview achieves more or less. So I'd be surprised if E4+1 closed.

Compare with ITV1+1 ratings; only about 10% of ITV1 and mentioned as disappointing in the 2011 ITV preliminary results.

Do we know if there is any space for a new 24h stream that would mean Channel4 would not have to remove E4+1?
In a few articles ive read, they all say that Channel4 has acquired Freeview space, so if they were to close E4+1 on Freeview, that wouldn't be acquired as such would it?
Just thinking aloud here...

As for removing Channel4+1, get real!!!!

i am guessing that this channel wont be a national channel....eg, not on FreeviewLite, just so some people dont get too disapointed when the channel doesnt appear.

To be honest I'm hoping they're replacing E4 +1. If they have "new space", what that really means is even lower quality video on other channels.