UTV + 1 or not (from next Tuesday ?)

Peter Henderson

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, ITV2+1 will disappear, and a retune is needed both to retrieve ITV2+1 at the same channel number (27) as well as load the new STV+1 or UTV+1 service at channel number 33

http://www.freeview.co.uk/Resolutions/About-Channels/Channel-changes/ITV1-1-to-launch-on-11-January-2011

but then I forgot about this:

The launch of STV+1 in Scotland and UTV1+1 in Northern Ireland is still to be confirmed

I suspect that all that will happen in NI is that ITV2+1 will have it's broadcasting hours reduced and nothing else.

Sam the Aerialman

This is the official press release issued by Arqiva regarding the Mendip 11th January retune.

http://www.arqiva.com/corporate/press/archive/2010/2010-12-29%20-%20Re-tune%20required%20for%20Mendip%20viewers.pdf


Looks like it will go ahead - 'In Scotland and Northern Ireland, ITV2+1 will disappear, and a retune is needed both to retrieve ITV2+1 at the same channel number (27) as well as load the new STV+1 or UTV+1 service at channel number (33)'. They've purchased space for a 19:00-04:00 slot for ITV2+1 on another multiplex.

Peter Henderson

the new ITV1+1 channel being launched nationally

but it's not being launched nationally Sam. ITV1+1 will only be available in Englend and Wales, not NI or Scotland.

The Freeview announcment was only amended today, after the press release (didn't notice it there yesterday) , so it would appear things aren't quite finalised with UTV or STV.

I have a feeling that NI will not get UTV + 1 next Tuesday, and will simply have ITV2+1 with reduced hours and nothing on 33 after the retune.

Sam the Aerialman

Use your head why purchase space on an additional multiplex if they weren't certain the plans were going ahead. My feeling is it will happen and they're negotiating two aspects 'costs' and how the channels will be regionalised to look something similar to the HD regions. The crux of the problem is STV and UTV don't want to lose their identity and the ad revenues that come with that. It's no big secret that ITV and STV are each other's throats and as such STV have been dropping ITV marked 'new dramas' from line ups, but it's still fairly certain that STV+1 will launch next week.

Peter Henderson

Indeed Sam, UTV could disappear after DSO:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a288272/greg-dyke-backs-new-scottish-tv-channel.html

Also at the conference, Dyke predicted that STV and Ulster Television - the last major networks holding Channel 3 licences - will face major challenges in the years ahead.

He said that ITV would most likely seek to broadcast flagship channel ITV1 directly into Scotland and Ireland once the licences expire in 2014, just as it currently does with ITV2.

That would mean STV and UTV would not be able to air major ITV shows such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale, reducing their appeal to viewers.

Still, It'll be interesting to see what happens next Tuesday and if there are any rights issues.

Sam the Aerialman

Well look the whole point of getting it onto Multiplex 2/D3+4 and moving ITV2+1 onto Multiplex A/SDN is to take advantage of the regional nature of Mux 2. I
suspect this is less to do with regional programme content since there's barely any and more to do with advertising sales regions. On DTT every transmitter should be transmitting the corresponding +1 for the version of ITV1 it's transmitting.

It also helps that D3+4 is a PSB mux rather than a COM mux and therefore ITV1+1 will be available from relay transmitters that have switched over.

Apparently ITV don't have to buy space on Mux A for ITV2+1, because they own it. S4C sold it to ITV plc in 2005.

ITV1:

London
Granada
Anglia North
Central West
Wales
Westcountry West
Westcountry South West
Border
Tyne Tees North
Meridian South
Meridian South East
Anglia South
Yorkshire West

Non-ITV plc Channel 3 regions:

Channel TV
STV North
STV West
STV East
Ulster TV

+1s:

Ulster TV +1
Central West +1
London +1
STV West +1
Granada +1
Meridian South +1

Sam the Aerialman

Released by DUK.

holidaysong

So will we see UTV+1 today on Freeview in NI?

Peter Henderson

holidaysong wrote: »

So will we see UTV+1 today on Freeview in NI?

That's the 64 million dollor qustion.

I'll do a rescan at 2.00 p.m. as instructed. That should tell us, although UTV +1 on satellite is telling us to do a rescan on Freeview at 8.00 p.m. Confusing.

It should be available yes from 2pm

http://www.freeview.co.uk/Resolutions/About-Channels/Channel-changes/ITV1-1-to-launch-on-11-January-2011

holidaysong

There's a test card in place on UTV+1 now stating that the service will begin at 8pm. A similar message on ITV2+1 stating it can be viewed from 7pm.

byrnefm

I can confirm it's turned on now - came across it earlier when looking through our channel listing

Just to add,The itv1 wales region puts out a london version of itv1hd.
This is what I get in wicklow from the preseli transmitter complete with the london regional news.
I presume thats also whats on the satelite version and that the reason is,theres no regional version yet.
BBC1 hd blanks out the london news.

Peter Henderson

I see Brainbox can't be broadcast for "legal reasons" on UTV+1