Interesting Goings On...

Rick_

Sky have closed down Sky Real Lives and have shifted some channels off a transponder on Astra 2D. Making way for something perhaps?

Possibly the FIVE family of channels (Channel 5, FIVER, FIVE USA and their +1's) moving from 12.422 to go FTA? Let's hope so.

Also, BBC 1 HD is launching in the next month or two, so it shouldn't be long before we see some action on the BBC HD transponder. With the space they create to launch BBC HD and BBC 1 HD together, we might even have Channel 4 HD joining them before Christmas. Let's really hope so!

Keep watching the skies!

STB

Yes the fight for space is getting interesting. I dont think Sky will relinquish what they have for a fta competitor. CH4HD may not become FTA til 2012.

But we dont know who will utilise the repositioned Astra 1N to 28.2 in Q2 2011 to solve the problem with narrow beam space problems at 2D (until the new birds go up between 2012 and 14).

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=67591232&postcount=20

gtg60

Maybe they just realised nobody watches those useless channels!

Rick_

Think about it though, the transponders on 2D don't have as much bandwidth as those on 2A and 2B, so if Sky want to launch more channels, especially HD ones, they would be better off with transponders on those beams. As some are occupied by the BBC, ITV, C4 and C5, why wouldn't they let them swap to a transponder on 2D where they can be FTA, it will only help Sky by letting them do it, and the broadcasters are moaning there is no space to go FTA so surely they would welcome the chance to move?

JDxtra

gtg60 wrote: »

Maybe they just realised nobody watches those useless channels!

Exactly. And they now own Living, so they had even less reason to keep these channels going.

Cantona's Collars

Living HD has launched today on Sky ch 224, Hallmark is to be re-branded as Universal TV. Sky hd has reached 3 million subscribers which is a lot of growth considering the recession and people watching the pennies.

gtg60

zerks wrote: »

Sky hd has reached 3 million subscribers which is a lot of growth considering the recession and people watching the pennies.

And that it is overpriced and doesn't have great content :rolleyes:

Cantona's Collars

Agree on the overpriced bit but 50 HD channels is hardly "not great content"-compare it to UPC's offering of HD. I hope when HBO and AMC launch on Sky they'll be HD.

gtg60

zerks wrote: »

Agree on the overpriced bit but 50 HD channels is hardly "not great content"-compare it to UPC's offering of HD. I hope when HBO and AMC launch on Sky they'll be HD.

Just my opinion, I had Sky HD for over a year, I only had the standard HD pack, once my favourite programs ended (Lost, BSG, 24) I saw no reason to continue paying €15 a month.
Different story if I'd have had movies or sport then it's better value for money IMHO!

Rick_

Well, the final two channels on that transponder are currently in the process of moving elsewhere, leaving an entire transponder on 2D free. What will it be used for? We will find out very soon I'm sure, I'm just hoping it's for all the Channel 5 regions and FIVE USA, FIVER and their +1's.

SteM

zerks wrote: »

I hope when HBO and AMC launch on Sky they'll be HD.

Is this happening for sure? I hadn't read about it, cool.

greendom

SteM wrote: »

Is this happening for sure? I hadn't read about it, cool.

I read somewhere that Sky had bought a lot of HBO programming and they were planning to show it on Sky 1.

SteM

greendom wrote: »

I read somewhere that Sky had bought a lot of HBO programming and they were planning to show it on Sky 1.

Yeah, had read that too. Hadn't read anything about them adding amc and hbo though.

Minstrel27

Channel 4 HD would be nice for Sunday Night Football.

zerks wrote: »

I hope when HBO and AMC launch on Sky they'll be HD.

Are you sure that the actual channels are launching? Sky recently bought the rights to most of their shows.

mike65

HBO and AMC are tied up to provide content not channels.

denis1501

Paddy C wrote: »

Well, the final two channels on that transponder are currently in the process of moving elsewhere, leaving an entire transponder on 2D free. What will it be used for? We will find out very soon I'm sure, I'm just hoping it's for all the Channel 5 regions and FIVE USA, FIVER and their +1's.

Just curious, how do you know the other channels on that transponder are moving??? Have they begun testing elsewhere????

DigiDec

Which transponder has been freed up (or wil be freed up)?

Rick_

Tests for FX+1 and At The Races are currently on other transponders, which only happens when they are actually moving, they should be moved by the start of next week, leaving the transponder empty. It will either switch to DVB-S2 and house some HD channels or it will swop with another transponder to free up space elsewhere to allow more channels to launch. The general idea we seem to be getting is that Channel 5 and it's spinoffs and timeshifts will go onto this 2D transponder and go FTA allowing Sky space to launch some channels which are supposed to be launching in a few weeks, namely ITV 2 HD amongst others which there is currently no room for at the moment.

The transponder that will be freed up is 10.876 V on Astra 2D.

denis1501

Can you please let us know which transponders Attheraces and FX+1 are testing on?? Especially Attheraces!
regards
D.

Rick_

12.148 H - 5402 (Test for FX+)
12.304 H - 9360 (Test for At The Races)

DigiDec

Thanks Paddy.

STB

Paddy C wrote: »

12.148 H - 5402 (Test for FX+)
12.304 H - 9360 (Test for At The Races)

Are these FTA at the moment or FTV ?

Rick_

The 2D transponder has been emptied and this morning filled up with 9 test channels.

Going by reports, the test videos are Nickelodeon and Sky Sports Active, so it looks like a 2A transponder is moving on to 2D to allow more HD channels to launch on 2A.

No FIVE USA or FIVER yet folks... we'll just have to wait longer.

gtg60

Paddy C wrote: »

No FIVE USA or FIVER yet folks... we'll just have to wait longer.

It is EXTREMELY unlikely that Sky will put FTA channels on one of it's transponders or even give up their lease on it so Freesat can put those channels up, that's not how Sky operates...

Rick_

Oh, I know, but I was thinking that Channel 5 may have requested this as a stipulation of them entering a contract with Sky to set up and run Channel 5 HD, they would only do it if they could let their other channels go FTA on satellite as they are looking to get them on to Freesat at some point when space is found on 2D. Same with Channel 4 HD too.

gtg60

UPDATE:
There are now 19 channels on this transponder
11 are encrypted and appear to be Sky sports active programming
4 are encrypted and are the Nick set of kids channels
4 are in the clear but blank at the moment so still interesting to see what these will be.

mullingar

subscribed.

Hopefully will be something decent and fta in those 4 slots

snaps

mullingar wrote: »

subscribed.

Hopefully will be something decent and fta in those 4 slots

The bit rate will be very low though!

Cantona's Collars

See ads on Sky now for ITV2hd, wonder what transponder they'l use for that,we don't actually need this channel in HD.

mullingar

zerks wrote: »

See ads on Sky now for ITV2hd, wonder what transponder they'l use for that,we don't actually need this channel in HD.

From~:
http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2010/ITV_to_launch_high_definition_digital_channels_on_Sky.htm

ITV to launch high definition digital channels on Sky

ITV has agreed a pay-television deal with Sky to launch high definition versions of its successful digital channels as a subscription service on the Sky platform.

ITV2 HD, ITV3 HD, and ITV4 HD will launch as part of Sky+HD’s subscription package of channels in autumn 2010. The channels will be available to all homes subscribing to a Sky+HD subscription, of which there are more than 2.9 million.
ITV2 HD will launch in October for the start of The Xtra Factor, with ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD launching shortly after. ............................................................

So subscription only....... (Not ftv)

greendom

mullingar wrote: »

From~:
http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2010/ITV_to_launch_high_definition_digital_channels_on_Sky.htm



So subscription only....... (Not ftv)

No word on whether the non HD ITV channels will move to the EPG

Minstrel27

zerks wrote: »

we don't actually need this channel in HD.

There is a good chance that you wont get it anyway.

STB

mullingar wrote: »

From~:
http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2010/ITV_to_launch_high_definition_digital_channels_on_Sky.htm



So subscription only....... (Not ftv)

Around the clock Poirot and Ruth Rendell in HD. Its bad enough in SD.

watty

I don't think that is available in HD.

Rick_

Unconfirmed reports elsewhere that Channel 4 have bought the transponder space on the BBC HD transponder and will be launching 4HD FTA for Freesat soon as their contract with Sky is up soon.

I heard rumours from a source that Channel 4 has bought transponder space from the BBC to enable them to launch HD on Freesat and that their encryption deal with Sky is nearly up.

I can't confirm the encryption bit but the following came from a regular contributer at Join Freesat:

QUOTE: Cannot comfirm this, but noise from a few reliable sources have said that Channel 4 have bought the vacant transponder space from the BBC for Channel 4 HD to launch on Freesat, again, I cannot confirm this

No concrete proof as yet but keep your fingers crossed.

Seems plausible, seeing as Freesat themselves said they have an announcement for us "soon" regarding Channel 4 HD. So we may be seeing it before Christmas maybe?

DigiDec

Well 4HD will be a welcome addition.