[Bangers]

Originally Posted by TYCO

No one thought Dave would come to Freeview, and it did.

Dave didn't exist before it launched on Freeview. It's predessor channel was UK Gold 2 (UK G2 and UKTV G2), which nobody gave a toss about coming to Freeview.

It works both ways though, those of us around in 2002 thought that TCM and Boomerang (FTA satellite channels at the time) were coming to Freeview... well when those channels finally did come to DTT it was in pay form on Top Up TV!

[freetoview33]

If anything Dave was more like UKTV People! Although I think the BBC have quite a range of programmes they could put on a relaunched Blighty, and fill a bit of a gap in the market currently especially since Sky Real Lives closed down.

[gottago]

Originally Posted by TV Time Mike

I know programmes are about Britain etc but has anyone watched it or at least checked content on a TV guide for an average days broadcasting, might not be as bad as we are led to believe.

I can imagine that if Blighty did launch on Freeview its schedule would be vastly different to what it is now, much like Really before it began on DTT.

Originally Posted by TYCO

There's no reason why it couldn't be Watch or Gold. I think UKTV have realised that they are not a pull to subscription services and their biggest successes are in the free TV domain. Showcasing material with a view to encouraging take-up of subscription services is a bad idea since their channels do poorly in subscription-TV homes.

Watch and Gold are the two subscription channels of theirs that rate well, in fact a quick look at BARB shows that gets similar figures to Really while Watch rates even higher so clearly their subscription model is working well there.

[russellelly]

Originally Posted by Bangers

It works both ways though, those of us around in 2002 thought that TCM and Boomerang (FTA satellite channels at the time) were coming to Freeview... well when those channels finally did come to DTT it was in pay form on Top Up TV!

Well, we were told

As for this slot, GOLD can't be out of the equation. Dave got a significant relaunch when joining Freeview, I think Really did too (?). Gold could do with some freshening up (start with the name UK Gold ).

[fozzi]

Originally Posted by russellelly

Well, we were told

As for this slot, GOLD can't be out of the equation. Dave got a significant relaunch when joining Freeview, I think Really did too (?). Gold could do with some freshening up (start with the name UK Gold ).

Maybe they could re launch it as "Gelder"

[TYCO]

Originally Posted by gottago

Watch and Gold are the two subscription channels of theirs that rate well, in fact a quick look at BARB shows that gets similar figures to Really while Watch rates even higher so clearly their subscription model is working well there.

Depends on your definition of rating well. If Really is your benchmark then virtually every channel would rate well according to you.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by TYCO

There's no reason why it couldn't be Watch or Gold.

Agreed, it's just less likely as BT has agreed to carry all pay-UKTV channels except Blighty.

[chrisy]

Originally Posted by TYCO

There's no reason why it couldn't be Watch or Gold. I think UKTV have realised that they are not a pull to subscription services and their biggest successes are in the free TV domain. Showcasing material with a view to encouraging take-up of subscription services is a bad idea since their channels do poorly in subscription-TV homes.

Additional, both owners now are fans of FTA TV. The BBC - obviously - and Scripps, whom I don't think run any subscription channels in the UK.

Really only launched on Freeview about a year ago, and to be going ahead with another Freeview launch so soon after seems to be indicating new enthusiasm for Freeview. With that in mind, anything could happen!

[freetoview33]

Sorry for the very long post!

These are the currently Blighty programmes (from the Blighty website)

A Picture of Britain
Andrew Marr's A History of Modern Britain
Blighty's Heroes
Britain from Above
Britain's Best Drives
British Style Genius
Climbing Great Buildings
Coast
Dog Borstal
English Heritage
Gardens on Blighty
Great Adventure Season
Great Britons
Ian Hislop's Scouting for Boys
Louis Theroux Meets...
Made In Britain
Morris: The Making of
Mountain
My Brilliant Britain
Oz & James Drink To Britain
Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure
Royals Season
Save Our Boozer
Seaside Rescue
Tales from the Palaces
The Ball's In Our Court
The Britpop Story
The Naked Rambler
The Real Little Britain
Tour of Britain Season
Traffic Cops
Trawlermen
Wainwright's Walks
Who Do You Think You Are?

A few other programmes I think that could find a home here are: (Okay not sure about the rights to them but, if they can/do have the rights) Okay not all the biggest hits on TV but nevertheless something to boost the programming and make it a more viable channel, and im sure there are many others but just proving the point there are shows that could find a home on Blighty.

Airport
A life of grime
The Apprentice
Great British Railway Journeys
Heir Hunters
How God Made the English
How We Built Britain
How to Start Your Own Country
Rip off Britain
The British at Work
The Tube (2012)
That's Britain!

[soulboy77]

Originally Posted by TYCO

...There's no reason why it couldn't be Watch or Gold...

No reason why not but UKTV's policy recently seems to be to try to find an audience for their under performing channels

Originally Posted by TYCO

Depends on your definition of rating well. If Really is your benchmark then virtually every channel would rate well according to you.

In the multi-channel world it seems anything > 0.2% of audience share is considered a success!

[AaronLancs]

Originally Posted by freetoview33

Sorry for the very long post!

These are the currently Blighty programmes (from the Blighty website)

A Picture of Britain
Andrew Marr's A History of Modern Britain
Blighty's Heroes
Britain from Above
Britain's Best Drives
British Style Genius
Climbing Great Buildings
Coast*
Dog Borstal*
English Heritage
Gardens on Blighty
Great Adventure Season
Great Britons
Ian Hislop's Scouting for Boys
Louis Theroux Meets...
Made In Britain
Morris: The Making of
Mountain
My Brilliant Britain
Oz & James Drink To Britain
Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure
Royals Season
Save Our Boozer
Seaside Rescue*
Tales from the Palaces
The Ball's In Our Court
The Britpop Story
The Naked Rambler
The Real Little Britain
Tour of Britain Season
Traffic Cops*
Trawlermen*
Wainwright's Walks
Who Do You Think You Are?*

A few other programmes I think that could find a home here are: (Okay not sure about the rights to them but, if they can/do have the rights) Okay not all the biggest hits on TV but nevertheless something to boost the programming and make it a more viable channel, and im sure there are many others but just proving the point there are shows that could find a home on Blighty.

Airport *
A life of grime
The Apprentice
Great British Railway Journeys
Heir Hunters
How God Made the English
How We Built Britain
How to Start Your Own Country
Rip off Britain
The British at Work
The Tube (2012)
That's Britain!

Erm, haven't you realised they have moved / shuffled many of the programmes that you have listed around. The entries I have marked with a * are / have already been featured on Dave, Really or Yesterday.

Maybe a new Freeview exclusive channel is needed to emulate the combined boots of Watch, Alibi and Gold.

[linkinpark875]

Sorry to say but there's very little to go on for it being Blighty.

If they put Watch on DTT it could easily rival ITV2 and E4.

If they put Good Food it would be a rival to Food Network.

Home would also be a good choice as it has stuff from UK Bright Ideas and UKTV Style use to be on Top Up TV.

Alibi is one of those channels forgotten about if they put that on DTT it would fill a bit of a niche for drama content.

[skl1983]

Gold will be a good rival for ITV3!

[gdog35]

The Dave ju vu channel is going to be 24 hrs a day in January. So I do not think a new UKTV channel will launch and I think Gold will still be on TOP UP TV, I could be wrong. There was only going to be 5 UKTV channels on Free-view in the first place..

[soulboy77]

Originally Posted by gdog35

The Dave ju vu channel is going to be 24 hrs a day in January. So I do not think a new UKTV channel will launch and I think Gold will still be on TOP UP TV, I could be wrong. There was only going to be 5 UKTV channels on Free-view in the first place..

That was announced over a week ago. Dave Ja Vu going 24 hours is temporary until UKTV decides what they want to do with the slot.

UKTV has not yet indicated whether the +1 channel will take the slot permanently, or whether it will launch another one of its channel brands on Freeview.

[Cymon H]

Originally Posted by linkinpark875

Sorry to say but there's very little to go on for it being Blighty.

If they put Watch on DTT it could easily rival ITV2 and E4.

If they put Good Food it would be a rival to Food Network.

Home would also be a good choice as it has stuff from UK Bright Ideas and UKTV Style use to be on Top Up TV.

Alibi is one of those channels forgotten about if they put that on DTT it would fill a bit of a niche for drama content.

As Food Network is run by the 50% stakeholder that will not happen !

[freetoview33]

Originally Posted by AaronLancs

Erm, haven't you realised they have moved / shuffled many of the programmes that you have listed around. The entries I have marked with a * are / have already been featured on Dave, Really or Yesterday.

Maybe a new Freeview exclusive channel is needed to emulate the combined boots of Watch, Alibi and Gold.

The top list is what Blighty website says are the current programmes .The bottom list is my suggestions.

[gdog35]

Originally Posted by soulboy77

That was announced over a week ago. Dave Ja Vu going 24 hours is temporary until UKTV decides what they want to do with the slot.

I did not know that.

Why did Dave ju vu. go for 2 hours a day in the first place and make it 24 hrs a day in January. It seems pointless.
Maybe they can make it permanent or they can make it another yesterday plus 1 channel, like they said they were going to do. I think people will complain about UKTV Food, UKTV Gold being on freeview. I doubt Watch will be on free-view Yesterday + 1 might come to free-view.

People do not like + 1 channels, but If you do not have a recorder for example.
I have Sky so I watch + 1 channels a lot...

[freetoview33]

It went to 2 hours so Really could launch on Freeview, and it was kept so they could keep channel 25.

[TV Time Mike]

UK TV was rather clever that way, they kept the slot and so could bring another service to freeview if they wanted in a reasonably good position on the guide.

I think that considering their past use of freeview to boost viewing numbers for their channels and taking into account deals for other pay services to go to BT etc. then Blighty or a new showcase service are the most likely replacements for Dave ju vu but that may not follow as Alibi would fill a good position for drama etc which is somewhat lacking at the moment but with the amount they must be paying for American shows it would seem unlikely.

I personally think they should do time sharing on the service. GOLD during the day 6 am to 6 pm then Home, Alibi, Blighy (or something new) 6 pm to 6 am.

Alot of people who watch GOLD will do so at night so they keep the pay market but open the service up to those at home during the day and as alot of their shows are repeated at night it would balance things out nicely I think.

We shall have to wait and see what the company decide is the most viable choice.

I just hope they don't have to reduce hours elsewhere or lower the bit rate as depending where we are watching the signal can go a little thin.

[Mickey_T]

Originally Posted by TV Time Mike

I just hope they don't have to reduce hours elsewhere or lower the bit rate as depending where we are watching the signal can go a little thin.

Such a shame Freeview is blighted by so many low bitrate, low resolution channels nowadays just so they can squeeze more in.

[freetoview33]

Originally Posted by Mickey_T

Such a shame Freeview is blighted by so many low bitrate, low resolution channels nowadays just so they can squeeze more in.

It's business, I don't think it's right but I can't see it ever changing.

[technologist]

Originally Posted by Mickey_T

Such a shame Freeview is blighted by so many low bitrate, low resolution channels nowadays just so they can squeeze more in.

Surely if someone will pay for the bit rate then the mux operator would oblige ..... it is just such a popular platform - and spectrum limited.....
..... and then everyone would say choice is limited!!!!
On the other hand many broadcasters would like to go down to 480 Pixels) but the STB are not speced to that profile!!!!

[chrisy]

Originally Posted by technologist

On the other hand many broadcasters would like to go down to 480 Pixels) but the STB are not speced to that profile!!!!

Thank God - 3/4 resolution is bad enough.

So you're saying it's the broadcasters rather than the mux operators that are self-imposing these appalling quality standards?

[Mickey_T]

I think it's down to the Mux operators, as we've had COM mux channels that were previously at 720x576 but with the extra channels that have been recently added all have gone now down to 544x576.

Perhaps it costs the broadcasters less to have their channels at 544x576 so they just happily go along with it?