RTL pulls FTA channels off terrestrial TV

MassiveDynamicsMassiveDynamics Posts: 661
Forum Member
✭✭
I have not seen this mentioned elsewhere, I came across this story regarding Germany's RTL

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/21/rtl_dtt/

Comments

  • tghe-retfordtghe-retford Posts: 26,449
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    The dilemma of DTT vs 4G is going to be an issue not just affecting Germany and RTL's decision that they have made to pull out of DTT, it will also affect the UK down the line.

    We can only go so far to squeeze DTT into as small a frequency range as possible to accommodate the far richer mobile phone companies who'll happily cough up the billions for the spectrum, something DTT licence holders, particularly the BBC, cannot anywhere near compete with.

    Wait until 5G comes down the line.

    The question is, will Freeview be popular enough to fight back the hunger for bandwidth that the mobile phone companies will want and are more than happy to pay handsome amounts for? In Germany with 5% take-up, it'll be a no-brainer for them. With our finances and Government who don't say no to money, will it be in the UK?

    My main concern is for those whom cable and broadband (in rural areas) makes those delivery methods for TV unviable. They'll have to rely on satellite and I hope BSkyB don't take advantage of that situation.
  • ktla5ktla5 Posts: 1,683
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    The mobile phone companies will win, and all TV will be either via freesat or sky.

    If freesat wants part of it, it needs agreesive marketing, at moment it seems to have none at all!
  • d'@ved'@ve Posts: 45,431
    Forum Member
    I have not seen this mentioned elsewhere, I came across this story regarding Germany's RTL

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/21/rtl_dtt/

    Interesting, though we are nowhere near that situation in the UK (yet) as " the terrestrial system accounts for less than 5 per cent of RTL's viewers"

    Also, there's no room for HD on terrestrial in Germany, apparently - and I think widespread genuinly free to air satellite TV was developed there a long time before in the UK (ordinary folks i.e. non-satellite enthusiasts) had to have a Sky or VM box until Freesat came along).

    It's a very different situation over there.
  • tghe-retfordtghe-retford Posts: 26,449
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    d'@ve wrote: »
    Interesting, though we are nowhere near that situation in the UK (yet) as " the terrestrial system accounts for less than 5 per cent of RTL's viewers"

    Also, there's no room for HD on terrestrial in Germany, apparently - and I think widespread genuinly free to air satellite TV was developed there a long time before in the UK (ordinary folks i.e. non-satellite enthusiasts) had to have a Sky or VM box until Freesat came along).

    It's a very different situation over there.
    It is indeed, but as the a516digital blog stated, even Ofcom has considered the idea of the end of DTT to allow the whole spectrum to be taken up for the mobile phone companies for 4G.

    Whilst DTT in the UK and particular the Freeview platform is more popular than DTT in Germany, it's still no cast iron guarantee that DTT will remain in the UK if the mobile phone companies can vastly financially outdo the DTT licencees for the same spectrum. With a deficit and need to maximise income for the treasury and Government, it could be a no-brainer.
  • d'@ved'@ve Posts: 45,431
    Forum Member
    It is indeed, but as the a516digital blog stated, even Ofcom has considered the idea of the end of DTT to allow the whole spectrum to be taken up for the mobile phone companies for 4G.

    Whilst DTT in the UK and particular the Freeview platform is more popular than DTT in Germany, it's still no cast iron guarantee that DTT will remain in the UK if the mobile phone companies can vastly financially outdo the DTT licencees for the same spectrum. With a deficit and need to maximise income for the treasury and Government, it could be a no-brainer.

    I did say "yet". At least another decade I reckon before we get near that situation, and the economy may be very different by then. The growth of internet delivery of TV will help to bring that day forward, of course.
  • technologisttechnologist Posts: 13,312
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    Germany only has 6% of its viewers on DTT ,.....
    21% are an digital Cable 28% on ANALOGUE cable
    35%DSAT 3% analogue sat
    6% DTT
    4% IPTV

    As in 2011 see OFCOM http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr12/icmr/ICMR_Section_3.pdf Page 154

    UK was 15% Dcable/ 44% DSAT/ 38% DTT/ 3%other... for First TV
  • SiriusSirius Posts: 4,881
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    And here we return to the fact DTT should never have been pushed as the preferred method of DSO.
  • DragonQDragonQ Posts: 4,807
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    Why does it matter? There's already a plan in place to fit the existing array of Freeview channels into a narrower bandwidth for 5G (circa 2018) and by that time IPTV will have a decent hold on the market too.

    By the time there's no air space left, we'll have moved on to IPTV.
  • BspksBspks Posts: 1,564
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    DragonQ wrote: »
    Why does it matter? There's already a plan in place to fit the existing array of Freeview channels into a narrower bandwidth for 5G (circa 2018) and by that time IPTV will have a decent hold on the market too.

    By the time there's no air space left, we'll have moved on to IPTV.

    That'll work really well for those with no fixed line or on holiday with their touring caravan.:mad:
  • malcy30malcy30 Posts: 7,028
    Forum Member
    Bspks wrote: »
    That'll work really well for those with no fixed line or on holiday with their touring caravan.:mad:

    Plus will they have given the whole country fibre broadband ? Or just said if you can't receive tough get Freesat or Sky.
  • Tony RichardsTony Richards Posts: 5,741
    Forum Member
    Germany only has 6% of its viewers on DTT ,.....
    21% are an digital Cable 28% on ANALOGUE cable
    35%DSAT 3% analogue sat
    6% DTT
    4% IPTV

    As in 2011 see OFCOM http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr12/icmr/ICMR_Section_3.pdf Page 154

    UK was 15% Dcable/ 44% DSAT/ 38% DTT/ 3%other... for First TV

    No analogue sat in Germany anymore so figures out of date. However DSAT is still strong and free in Germany
Sign In or Register to comment.