E4 to launch on Freeview!

lawhec

Channel 4 to Launch E4 on Freeview
26/04/2005

Channel 4 has today confirmed that it will launch its digital entertainment channel, E4, on the Freeview platform to coincide with the start of the sixth series of Big Brother at the end of May.

Big Brother fans in Freeview homes will be able to join those with satellite or cable in accessing live, round-the-clock streaming from the house, with E4 joining the free-to-air digital terrestrial TV platform for the first time.

Channel 4 will launch time-shifted channel, E4 +1, on Freeview, at the same time.

E4 will continue to transmit on satellite exclusively as part of the Sky Digital package, as a continuation of its existing carriage deal with BSkyB.

Carriage of E4 on cable will also be uninterrupted, but Channel 4 has served notice of its intention to withdraw E4 from the Top Up TV package being marketed as a pay-TV add on to the main free-to-air Freeview service.

Andy Duncan, Channel 4’s Chief Executive said: “E4’s launch on Freeview will make one of digital TV’s ‘must-have’ channels available to eight million new viewers. Freeview is still growing fast and we’re forecasting an uplift in ratings and advertising revenues, which we expect to exceed lost subscription revenues. Alongside the launch of More4, taking E4 free-to-air is key to our strategy of extending our presence in multi-channel with a view to funding and strengthening our public service contribution in a fully digital world, across all platforms.”

Dan Brooke, Controller of Digital Strategy at Channel 4, added: “We’ve always said we would take E4 free-to-air when this represented the best opportunity for its future development and growth. We’re delighted to be continuing our relationship with Sky Digital, Britain’s biggest digital TV platform, as well as joining its fastest growing one.”

E4 launched on Sky Digital and cable in January 2001, with home-grown programme successes such as Banzai and Trigger Happy TV and quickly developed a reputation for bringing the best in US acquisitions to the UK, including Friends, ER, The Sopranos and The OC. In just four years on air E4 has established itself as the UK’s second most watched digital channel among 16 to 34-year-old viewers (BARB, 12 months to 2004).

Excellent news, a good bonus to DTT viewers on both sides of the border and a nice two fingers stuck up to TUTV!

Johnny_the_fox

yes \o/

channelsurfer

not good news for those on fta satellite as it means that c4 and e4 will conitnue to be encrypted until at least 2008

marclt

According to the press release i saw.. E4 wont be collecting any money from the subscriptions - does this mean free to air e4 soon?

channelsurfer

no it means that it will stay encrypted on sky at least until the encryption agreement runs out in 2008

Ulsterman 1690

Freeview is still growing fast and we’re forecasting an uplift in ratings and advertising revenues, which we expect to exceed lost subscription revenues

Pity $ky one etc dont see things the same way :rolleyes:

Actually Ive always wondered if the decision to charge for $ky one was legal in the first place. Remember after the BSB/$ky merger the ITC told Sky they had to provide former BSB viewers with free $ky boxes and the same level of service as BSB used to ? Since BSB Galaxy was always FTV its replacment $ky one should have been obliged to remain free as well