TV's working with Saorview - The List

The licence fee only entitles you to watch broadcasts at an address within the terms of the licence, it does not give any entitlement to services - and if that is to be pushed, then it really only applies to those channels which are licence fee-funded i.e. the BBC, or at a really big push also including commercial broadcasters with PSB obligations e.g. ITV1, Channel 4 & Channel 5. By applying that, these channels plus a few more are (or will be after respective DSO's) available from every transmitter and relay station in the UK.

For broadcasters on other commercial multiplexes, they have no required obligations and are not subject to providing coverage beyond what they already have. The planned coverage of all three PSB multiplexes across the UK is nearly 99% while for the three national commercial multiplexes is 90%. The commercial multiplexes are broadcast from 80 sites, compared to 1,150 for the PSB multiplexes. The commercial multiplex owners (SDN & Arqiva) were offered frequencies at up to a further 120 sites after switch-over if they wished, but they declined. They decided it wasn't cost feasible for them to extend their roll out.

As for geography, living in or close to a built up area won't guarantee you access to all six multiplexes - those reliant on reception at Carnmoney Hill or Black Mountain in Belfast rather than Divis will not have reception to the commercial multiplexes. The L/Derry relay serves 37,000 homes yet it'll only carry a 'Freeview Lite' service (though the majority in the city should be able to receive all services if they install aerials for Limavady) - the same goes for Strabane, who will again be 'Freeview Lite' serving 14,000 homes and unlike L/Derry most in the Strabane service area (those on its southern fringes possibly excepted) won't have coverage from a full Freeview transmitter site. It's simply the law of diminishing returns for commercial operators.

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Is there any point mentioning that this thread has nothing whatsoever to do with licence fees, 'Freeview lite' & certainly the plight of those in Scotland who can only receive the aforementioned?

Probably not - but addressing it isn't harmful if it doesn't completely derail the thread.