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C4 & Box TV to launch IPTV Music channels


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Old 23-05-2013, 13:27
Nightdeamon
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Music television provider Box TV is launching a connected-TV ‘music portal’ on Freeview that will stream three extra channels via its 4Music EPG slot.

Box TV a joint venture between Channel 4 and publisher Bauer, is extending its reach to allow viewers with internet-connected Freeview boxes to access a live stream of the Kiss, Kerrang! And Magic TV channels via 4Music’s channel 18 slot on the main EPG.

The full portfolio of Box TV music channels, which include Box, Heat and Smash Hits, will also now be streamed via the central 4Music website and on their own respective sites.

The company’s strategy of extending its distribution follows its shift from premium to free packages on the Sky platform in April, and subsequent launch on Freesat.

Director of programming Dave Young said it was the first time a major broadcaster had beefed up its channel with a raft of linear services delivered via IPTV. “We’re on the verge of launching the kind of service that’s been promised for over a decade by connected TV,” said Young.

“This move will extend our reach, grow opportunities for advertisers and improve our offering to record labels as the best place to promote new artists. “We wanted to create an area that people could visit and give them options if they couldn’t find what they wanted on 4Music.”

He added that it was a much cheaper way of securing distribution for multiple channels on the Freeview platform than buying individual EPG slots. He believes live music TV remains relevant as consumers increasingly consume content on-demand. “We can act as curators and help viewers to navigate music as it becomes increasingly ubiquitous,” he said.

Box TV is working with Arqiva owned IPTV provider Connect TV, which has previously delivered streamed linear services via Freeview for niche broadcasters including CCTV, Hellenic TV and Kelvin MacKenzie’s Sports Tonight Live. Its online streaming is being supported by Simplestream.
SOURCE: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/m...056646.article
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Old 23-05-2013, 14:16
mackembloke72
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so would this be available on youview?
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Old 23-05-2013, 14:40
kasg
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so would this be available on youview?
Can they receive the existing Internet-delivered channels from LCN 225 to 236? If so, then yes.
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Old 23-05-2013, 15:28
peter_sharp1uk
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Not at the moment, hardly any equipment can.
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Old 23-05-2013, 15:47
kasg
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Not at the moment, hardly any equipment can.
Doesn't look good then, I just assumed the Youview boxes at least would be able to receive these services, since they are HD and the whole concept depends on their being connected to the Internet.
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Old 23-05-2013, 17:14
paul_m
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It's clever that they are linking them to 4 Music so they can be reached on channel 18 instead of with the other IPTV channels in the depths of the EPG in the 200's. But I don't understand why only 3 of their channels (Kiss, Kerrang and Magic) will be available via Freeview. Why are Box, Heat and Smash Hits only accessible via their websites?
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Old 23-05-2013, 22:09
JamSir
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The 4Music IPTV service is now up and running on my Samsung SMART TV, and a very smart application it is too.

A red button prompt appears on screen "MORE MUSIC TELLY".

Once you press it, a menu appears on the right hand side of the screen with schedule information for each channel, and you scroll down to access Kerrang!, Kiss and Magic.

Pressing the OK button takes the channel fullscreen, and a further press of OK brings up a now and next EPG guide.

The Back key will return you to the menu screen and ultimately the Channel 18 4Music DTT stream.

Picture quality on all the IPTV channels is very good with no buffering or stuttering.

Certainly the best use of Freeview IPTV I've seen so far.
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Old 23-05-2013, 22:18
Ignite
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I've got it on my Samsung as well. As JamSir said it looks good. In fact, the picture quality of Magic seems to be better on this than on the satellite feed! It remains to be seen how it will hold up once more people start to use it and the bandwidth usage increases.
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Old 23-05-2013, 23:37
chrisy
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It doesn't work here... I half expected that because it's a 2010 TV (Sports Tonight works though), however the way it fails is that the MHEG stops responding to button presses and the video never starts, so I think it's something in the MHEG causing the interpreter to crash.

Hopefully this can be fixed, as these channels are actually worthwhile!
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Old 23-05-2013, 23:45
kasg
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Tuning to 4 Music on an STBHDIS2010 now reboots the box after a few seconds!
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Old 24-05-2013, 00:01
brumlad36
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I have a TVonics box. Although Connect channels work fine, there is no red prompt on arrival at 4Music (CH18).
If I press the red or Text buttons nothing happens at all.

I also have a YouView box, that doesn't work either.

At this rate, they won't have many viewers

Chris.
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Old 24-05-2013, 00:03
chrisy
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Tuning to 4 Music on an STBHDIS2010 now reboots the box after a few seconds!
Hmm, is that v2xx firmware? If so that's quite worrying - there is obviously something wrong with the MHEG.

If it's v1xx firmware then I wouldn't be surprised (although I'm not sure why it would need to connect out to the Internet immediately)
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Old 24-05-2013, 00:11
kasg
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Hmm, is that v2xx firmware? If so that's quite worrying - there is obviously something wrong with the MHEG.
Yes, 225. I think my other box is on 226 but I haven't tried 4Music on that one yet. Of course that does now mean that I have finally lost iPlayer on this box (see other thread) and it's currently downloading from your terrestrialtv.co.uk server, for which many thanks.
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Old 24-05-2013, 01:17
1andrew1
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Doesn't look good then, I just assumed the Youview boxes at least would be able to receive these services, since they are HD and the whole concept depends on their being connected to the Internet.
Hopefully when YouView is able to receive linear IPTV channels this summer including BT Sport, it will be able to decipher these Box Music channels too.
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:13
Markynotts
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Not at the moment, hardly any equipment can.
My Panasonic TV certainly can.
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Old 24-05-2013, 07:48
Mickey_T
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I'm getting to the menu but the screen which should be playing video just says 'hang tight... you're almost there'

It's been 'almost there' for the last ten minutes, but still nothing. This is on a Humax Fox T2
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Old 24-05-2013, 09:42
pad_ehh
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I must try this on my Samsung Smart TV tonight which is connected by wifi to our BT Infinity box, so it should work...!
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Old 24-05-2013, 11:09
linkinpark875
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You can watch Heart and Capital online already.

This is just a gimmick linking it in with the red button. Also it's not the full line up of channels.

Many with Freeview already have FTA Sky or Freesat too.

And it's a desperate move as the music channel viewing figures are tumbling. It might not seen economical sense for another music channel on the EPG but should The Box replace say C4+1 it would instantly beat the likes of VIVA and become one of the highest rated music channels.
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Old 24-05-2013, 12:49
kjhskj75
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But Heat, Kerrang and Magic are all on Freeview anyway, why should you need IP to get them.

And I remember years ago that "The Hits TV" had an MHEG app that allowed you to switch between them (and others).
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Old 24-05-2013, 12:54
Nightdeamon
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Their TV channels' not radio stations, although there not all there this is most likely a trial to gauge interest and trial the new technologies used - their using encryption apparently.
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Old 24-05-2013, 19:10
chrisy
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I'm getting to the menu but the screen which should be playing video just says 'hang tight... you're almost there'

It's been 'almost there' for the last ten minutes, but still nothing. This is on a Humax Fox T2
Do the buttons stop responding too?

If so that's exactly the same problem I have on my Panasonic. Hopefully Arqiva can fix it.
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Old 24-05-2013, 19:21
RileyM
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Not working on the LG LM620T
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Old 25-05-2013, 00:52
Kargo
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Working on my Samsung Smart TV. I took some screenshots for anyone wondering how it looks.

http://imgur.com/ALms9x3
http://imgur.com/DNkzHXI
http://imgur.com/kvrzOJC
http://imgur.com/jUq1M75
http://imgur.com/xZwXCwH
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Old 25-05-2013, 07:58
Markynotts
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It's working on my Panasonic, although there does appear to be a few buffering issues this morning. I did check the other IPTV channels and they stream perfectly, so possibly a few teething problems just now.

Anything that adds to the choice available has to be a plus. Hopefully some of the FTA channels that are available on Freesat will monitor this and launch a similar service (CBS Channels Im looking at you). I would prefer an actual channel number though amongst the other IPTV channels.
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Old 25-05-2013, 16:14
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Works fine on my Panasonic P50ST50B. Takes a while to actually load the channels though, which is a bit crap considering I have the TV connected to my 80 Mbps broadband (wired) and the TV is a 2012 model.

Streaming is perfect once started. Aspect ratio is wrong for 4:3 content and can't be changed on the TV apparently. >_>
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