UTV 1 HD on Freeview by next year ???????

Mr. Rabbit

It's gone very quiet on this front recently, after the big hullabaloo by UTV when this station launched last year....but only on Virgin Media. GRRRRR:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Still no access to ITV 1 HD on either the Sky or Freesat EPGs.

So what's going to happen next year with DSO in NI ? Is there a possibility that if UTV don't sort this out, NI could be left with no channel 3 HD of any description and only 3 HD stations on Freeview ? :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Knowing UTV and how Ofcom do things up here, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

jamescc

are you saying that you do not get itv1 hd?

Mr. Rabbit

jamescc wrote: »

are you saying that you do not get itv1 hd?

I get it from Cambrett Hill in Scotland at the moment on Freeview HD.

However, there are no Freeview HD channels on any of the NI Freeview transmitters currently operating in the province

ITV 1 HD is blocked fgrom appearing on either the Sky or Freesat EPGs by UTV. It can be accessed on Sky using other channels, or on Freesat using non Freesat mode, but it's not on either EPG so programmes can't be recorded in the conventional way when using Sky + or Freesat +

My point is about next year when DSO happens in NI. If we have no UTV HD by then, it's possible we may not have access to a Channel 3 HD of any description after DSO.

Rick_

UTV, IIRC, have said that they won't be launching UTV HD on Freeview until DSO due to there being no space for it to go anywhere until the BBC change one of their MUX's to DVB-T2. This isn't UTV's fault, it's just how it was all planned out at the start by the BBC and Ofcom etc.

Regarding Freesat, there will be extra space before Christmas hopefully for a wave of new channels to launch FTA and hopefully UTV HD will go free on satellite around that time. If not, you'll have to wait longer or just tune in ITV 1 HD manually on satellite or change your postcode on your Freesat receiver to a Manchester one to have it in the EPG.

icdg

Paddy C wrote: »

UTV, IIRC, have said that they won't be launching UTV HD on Freeview until DSO due to there being no space for it to go anywhere until the BBC change one of their MUX's to DVB-T2.

That's their line, yes:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-cup-utv-faces-wrath-of-fans-over-absence-of-high-definition-service-14835151.html

You can understand them not wanting ITV1 HD on the Northern Ireland EPG on Sky - UTV get none of the advertising revenue from ITV1 HD and they don't want it on the EPG canabalising their viewership. I don't see any good reason why its not on satellite but apparently they want ITV plc to carry it on their transponders which may be causing issues.

Anyway if you really want UTV HD on an EPG now, its Virgin Media only I'm afraid.

lawhec

I will be very surprised if UTV HD doesn't appear on transmitters straight after the analogue switch off. Unlike Channel TV, UTV have all the playout in place and will just need the feed to be inserted into the DVB-T2 HD multiplex.

Mr. Rabbit

lawhec wrote: »

I will be very surprised if UTV HD doesn't appear on transmitters straight after the analogue switch off. Unlike Channel TV, UTV have all the playout in place and will just need the feed to be inserted into the DVB-T2 HD multiplex.

Interestingly, when I do a postcode check with Digital UK, they state that I'll only be getting 3 HD channels post DSO, which kind of confirms my predictions.

Don't be surprised if NI has no Channel 3 HD of any description, post DSO, except on Virgin Media.

GRRRRRRRRR :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Most likely transmitter: Carnmoney Hill:

Good
Up to 18 channels available +
3 HD channels

Rick_

3 HD channels as things stand at the moment. UTV may not even have applied for a broadcasting licence for UTV HD on DTT yet, so that site is hardly going to tell you that UTV HD will be available after DSO when clearly it won't, yet, as UTV haven't put things in motion for it to be joining the line-up.

BBC ONE HD, BBC TWO HD [BBC HD], UTV HD and Channel 4 HD will all be available after DSO from NI. As DSO isn't happening for at least another year yet the results from the coverage checker will vary probably several times between now an next summer.

Mr. Rabbit

As DSO isn't happening for at least another year yet the results from the coverage checker will vary probably several times between now an next summer

Possibly before that Paddy.

Doesn't Brogher switch next April ?

I think UTV need to get the finger out and sort out this mess re. no ITV 1 HD in the province, either on Freesat or Sky (it's been going on for 2 years now).

At least if something was on satelliite, even if it wasn't on the EPG, I'd be more optomistic.

As things stand, I think there is a real possibility of no Channel 3 on HD for NI next year.

Perhaps they think viewers here are either stupid or don't care.

The Cush

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Doesn't Brogher switch next April ?

Unlikely with less than 12 months to April and no Switchover Manager or information campaign in place and the London DSO taking place next April. The NI Switchover Manager's contract runs from Sept 2011-Dec 2012.

I'd expect a joint North/South announcement on ASO/DSO in August or Sept with switchoff starting after the Olympics, Sept to Nov 2012 looks likely.

lgs 4

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

It's gone very quiet on this front recently, after the big hullabaloo by UTV when this station launched last year....but only on Virgin Media. GRRRRR:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Still no access to ITV 1 HD on either the Sky or Freesat EPGs.

So what's going to happen next year with DSO in NI ? Is there a possibility that if UTV don't sort this out, NI could be left with no channel 3 HD of any description and only 3 HD stations on Freeview ? :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Knowing UTV and how Ofcom do things up here, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

AND IF COULD ALSO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TV 3 BECAUSE TV 3 GET THERE LIVE FEEDS FROM UTV:eek:

Mr. Rabbit

The Cush wrote: »

Unlikely with less than 12 months to April and no Switchover Manager or information campaign in place and the London DSO taking place next April. The NI Switchover Manager's contract runs from Sept 2011-Dec 2012.

I'd expect a joint North/South announcement on ASO/DSO in August or Sept with switchoff starting after the Olympics, Sept and Nov 2012 looks likely.

Well, someone in the know on these forums has of course suggested Brougher may, unnoficially, be switching as early as April (before the olympics), Limivady in September, and Divis finally at the end of November.

The lack of clarity is very frustrating with all sorts of dates being bandied about, some as early as June, others as late as 31st March 2013 (which still seems an awful long way off).

If we do end up with only 3HD channels post DSO, I would imagine a lot of people here will be going for Freesat and entering an English postcode in the set up procedure !

The Cush

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Well, someone in the know on these forums has of course suggested Brougher may, unnoficially, be switching as early as April (before the olympics), Limivady in September, and Divis finally at the end of November.

Sam the Aerialman, but that was before DigitalUK announced April as the London DSO date - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71720476

kleefarr

Anyone else watching ITV1 HD and can't get rid of the program menu at the bottom of the screen?