ITV2 on Sky Digital ? It's looking good !

Charles Slane

One of the ITV test channels (3-5) that hasn't been showing anything is now broadcasting the William Road color bars.

But more interestingly, it's got EPG information for ITV2.

Hopefully we'll soon see some programming. It would be great to have David Letterman back.

roy

It would be great to have itv2 as well, but is there any news on itv sport.

Charles Slane

I haven't heard anything about ITV Sport but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

I had a look at the listings for ITV2 and I was surprised to see that UTV2 is still showing it's own variations (I thought I'd read that it had been scrapped like STV2).

I guess it's unlikely that both ITV2 and UTV2 will be on Sky Digital, and judging by the listings UTV2 wouldn't be much of a loss ("Ulster Choir of the Year" every day).

Charles as usual you are a Rock of information-ITV 2 on Sky will be handy.
AFAIK UTV 2 was reported to be swapping for ITV 2 alright but , Its happening soon-I remember reading about it and an exact date( but can't remember where or when except its soon-happens when you get old )
All Sky viewers should experience the analogue version of S4C-The Eistedfod coverage is great-it's the welsh language equivalent of 24:7 Ulster folk Choir and usually pushes Brookie to midnight when its on...
mm

mike65

Originally posted by madman
The Eistedfod coverage is great-it's the welsh language equivalent of 24:7 Ulster folk Choir and usually pushes Brookie to midnight when its on...
mm

Great!
Pass the revovler....!

Mike

Charles Slane

On the ITV2 EPG this morning there was a listing for GMTV2.

Does anyone know what GMTV2 is ?

Surely not more Eamon Holmes ?!?!

bkehoe

From what I heard, ITV Sport may soon loose it's attraction if they give back the football rights, as they paid too much for them, and can't afford it....

Brendan

DMC

Originally posted by Charles Slane
On the ITV2 EPG this morning there was a listing for GMTV2.

Does anyone know what GMTV2 is ?

Surely not more Eamon Holmes ?!?!

Not too much more of him, much less than expected
GMTV 2 compliments the ITV 1 schedule, its shows mainly kids programmes that GMTV broadcast during the week, and has the bulk of GMTV's signed programmes.

Charles Slane

Thanks Damo.

I guess regardless of the fact that GMTV2 might not have the most exciting programming ever, it's always nice to have more choice. And let's face it, that's what digital TV is all about.

I've had ITV 2 for quite a while now, curtesy of ITV digital-never saw GMTV2 though-did catch This morning's afternoon addition AKA the repeat-infact a lot of their programmes would suit Videophobes:rolleyes:
My brother has the box at the moment-but I did see a promo for an interactive Who wants to be a millionaire on ITV digital-so I'll be demanding the box back-quicksmart to try that out:cool:
Wonder will they have it on their Sky service...?
mm

Charles Slane

Unconfirmed sightings of ITV2 on 3-5.

Anyone near a digibox ?

bkehoe

It seems closer. Anglia was shown till 13:40, which is when ITV2 actually starts with Emmerdale, when it decided to stop working.

Oooh, it's just started up again, but is showing Anglia again, but ITV2 EPG info.

Brendan.

roy

It now has a frozen picture of some cartoon

Mossy Monk

a picture of a pig nodding his head at an incredible pace. i thought it was the Carlton London region on 3-5 but that doesn't really matter. they had some strange kind of widescreen on it earlier with little lines covering the screen horizontly and verticly over the programme that was on

rymus

silly question probably.. but how do I go about tuning in this newly discovered channel?

Rymus,
charles Slane has posted that info for newbies here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34913
just follow the instructions and store every thing not just the channels mentioned-ie: all the numbered bars that you will have when clicking find channels and you're off !
mm

While we're on the subject: here is a reply i got , sent to me yesterday!,to an e-mail, I sent to HTV quite a while ago:

Thank you for your e-mail with regard to transmissions via the Sky Digital
platform.

ITV1 has committed to making its broadcasts, including 16 regional services,
available on digital satellite by the end of the year. This remains the
intention and a date for launch will be announced in due course.

It is hoped that regional companies will automatically appear on channel 103
pending ongoing negotiations with Sky.

ITV2 and the ITV Sport Channel will not be part of this current agreement,
and at this moment in time we do not have dates as to when these will be
available via digital satellite - the services have been offered and are
still under negotiation.

I hope this answers the main points you raised, I'm afraid we have no
further details to add at present.

Thank you for your interest in HTV and should you have any further queries
once the service is launched, please contact us again.

Yours sincerely,
Catrin Thomas

Of course as ye all know-HTV west and Anglia's websites let the Cat out of the bag a while back - interestingly, that reply was from HTV Wales, who unlike their Sister station were not as forthcoming.

I notice Carlton are now letting us know the story:
taken from Sky digi-online:
17/11/01 More ITV1 details revealed
SDO's continued ITV1 coverage continues now with Carlton also confirming that ITV1 will be available to Sky Digital viewers from the 20th of November. They have stated, for the first time that the; "ITV1 schedule will appear as normal" apart from some of the regional news services because, "the digital satellite service is technically unable to show all the regional services ITV1 broadcasts". Carlton also confirmed that if the regional service is not the one you usually watch, then simply switch to EPG 963 or 964 for your region. Source: Lakhvinder Baddhan, Carlton

16/11/01 ITV1 regional details announced EXCLUSIVE
Both Anglia TV and Meridian have confirmed to SDO that ITV1 will launch on 20th November 2001 with other regions in the 900 section of the EPG. Meridian told us; "In regions like Meridian where there is more than 1 regional service, the main regional service will be found on channel 103... however, the others i.e. Newbury and Maidstone will be available through buttons 963 or 964". Anglia confirmed; "We understand that you are likely to be able to tune into adjoining ITV
regions by going through the 900's". Anglia also revealed that "ITV regional reception on Sky Digital will be allocated according to postcode". The Guernsey Press has also reported that Channel TV will launch on Sky Digital on 20th November at 10am. SDO is the site to stay with for the very latest.
Source: Lakhvinder Baddhan, Meridian, Anglia, Daniel Wilson, James Robinson

mm

Keeks

Originally posted by madman
Rymus,
charles Slane has posted that info for newbies here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34913
just follow the instructions and store every thing not just the channels mentioned-ie: all the numbered bars that you will have when clicking find channels and you're off !
mm

Someone should turn that into a 'sticky' with a list of the chanell freq for newbies. It might stop some of the more common questions popping up.

Charles Slane

According to a post by JDH on the Big Forum, ITV2 is currently showing Who Wants to be a Millionaire with the ITV2 logo onscreen.

It's the first time the ITV2 logo has appeared, so I guess it's a positive step.

Leesider

Yes, I was at home at lunchtime, and ITV2 is definitely in the cleat. After WWTBAM, the list of programmes for the rest of the day was advertised on screen. Pin-sharp picture, too

Charles Slane

Sorry to Damo for repeating his post in the ITV thread (that'll teach me to hit the Refresh button more often).

This is great news about ITV2. Let's hope it stays on. I might finally get to see Letterman after so long.

It's strange that "Who wants .." was being shown without being scheduled.

Can anyone confirm if Emmerdale has appeared ?

Emerdale is now showing on ITV 2 on the 3-5 channel
Loud and clear
hard to keep up with all this and do some work as well:D
mm

Charles Slane

Arrrggghh !! How annoying is that ? I come home to find out it's encrypted !! What are my chances of seeing Letterman now ?

(Maybe I should stop obsessing about Letterman)

NIBBS

Are you sure that it hasn't just been moved, 3-5 is encrypted, but the dialog on screen talks about Challenge TV (channel 121 on the EPG I think)..........may just all be part of the tests.......here's hoping ITV2 does come into the package.....:cool:

_Kaiser_

Are you sure that it hasn't just been moved, 3-5 is encrypted, but the dialog on screen talks about Challenge TV (channel 121 on the EPG I think)

Really? When I got home, the dialogue was referring to Sky One, tho the Now/Next bar DID still show programming info from ITV2 - I checked

Also noticed (albeit belatedly) that the main ITV channels have lost the "squares" overlay and are transmitting after midnight. Was nice to see the Liverpool game in Digital quality tho - shame about the result

Reply to nibbs and Kaiser:

Whats going on there is ITV are testing Sky's conditional access system on ITV 2 on the 3-5 test channel.
When they are doing that-They are not bothering to change the message-This was the same when they were testing CAS on the ITV tests-There were CAS messages for lots of different Sky channels on the ITV tests when they were blocked.
You should find hopefully when they are satisfied with the CAS tests that ITV 2 will be in the clear again.
It won't be if its not going on the Irish EPG though.
mm

Charles Slane

Well at least ITV2 is clear at the moment, but with ITV1 not appearing on the Irish EPG (and the idea that they may encrypt soon), I don't feel as positive as I did when I started this thread.

My biggest hope at the moment is that ITV1 (and all it's regions) and ITV2 will stay unencrypted, and we'll be able to access them through "Other Channels", but somehow I don't think so.

Anybody out there got any good news ?

DMC

I might be adding to the downward feeling on this subject Charles....

The ball is in UTV's court, and wheather or not we see ITV2 is down to the wee small matter of UTV2.

If UTV and the rest of ITV can discuss a carraige deal for ITV2 on ITV Digital in the north, then we can expect to see ITV2 when UTV appears on the Irish EPG. But I have not heard much on that subject since a few weeks ago, at the start of the month, when a deal about UTV2 and ITV2 was imminent. We still await that one.

It will be interesting to see when ITV2 appears on the EPG in GB, if UTV2 is still on the air, can NI viewers see ITV2 only on Sky Digital?

Sooooo many combinations..... in the words of TF Gumby..... "MY BRAIN HURTS!!!!!"

Charles Slane

Mmmm.... the fact that ITV1 is on the UK EPG but is still availabe through "Other Channels" makes me wonder if maybe, just maybe, the deal with Sky is just for EPG placement and not conditional access, which would leave ITV1 (and all it's regions) and ITV2 available to us in the Republic of Ireland.

I know it's a last straw, but if it was true it would be great. I could live without the channels being easily accessible on the EPG, so long as I could still access them somehow.

I really can't see UTV2 becoming available on Sky digital. I reckon they will throw in the towel at the same time (or shortly after) ITV2 appear on the EPG.

But I guess I'm living in dreamland (re the conditional access).

byte

Well as I posted in another ITV thread, I got a reply to an email to UTV which states that the ball is in Skys court regarding UTV on ROI EPG. Hmm. Will we see it on EPG soon? Will we EVER see it on EPG. I can safely assume that some/all of the 16 regions will encrypt as ITV hardly paid £17m. for CA and still have them FTA:rolleyes:

bkehoe

They're FTV at the moment, ITV2 as well.

Originally posted by Irishbyte:

I can safely assume that some/all of the 16 regions will encrypt as ITV hardly paid £17m. for CA and still have them FTA

I hope you are wrong on that score.
AFAIK ITV own the transponders, that they broadcast on-or at least, they are leasing them-thats the card they played in their negotiations with Sky-in that they were going to make themselves available ,independently of Sky, if a deal was not struck.
AFAIK-Skys CAD directs numbers on the EPG to the muxes, the channel broadcasts on.as well as determining whether a card should have access to that channell.
The purpose of being on the EPG from ITV's point of view would be obviously, the convenience of it for the viewer-But also and almost as importantly, to direct local viewers to local advertising.
Theres no need for them to restrict viewers from adding on the other regions.
mm

chernobyl

Originally posted by madman
Originally posted by Irishbyte:


AFAIK ITV own the transponders, that they broadcast on-or at least, they are leasing them

Its a double edged sword for getting on Sky Digital.

You rent the TP but you rent from SES and sky provide the encryption and EPG access (more money).


Sky also rent the TP's for their own channels.

Im not too sure that sky could afford to get 5 birds into they sky..maybe.

Charles Slane

Well I finally got to see Dave Letterman on ITV2 last night and it was rubbish !! No, just kidding, it was great to see the show again.

I also noticed that when ITV2 closes down, it's next day's programme screen makes no mention of GMTV2, but there it is, large as life. Strange.

Our man in Havana

Charles,

Where are you? I have a London BBC card. I am geting ITV1 ok but ITV2 on 3-5 is encryped all the time.

Any ideas?

Bond

Originally posted by Bond-James Bond:

I have a London BBC card. I am geting ITV1 ok but ITV2 on 3-5 is encryped all the time.

Can't understand that!
With my BBC Card in-no problems ITV2 on 3-5 and its a London Card aswell.
Read another rumour last night , surfing through another forum that ITV 2 would be on the UK EPG sometime today on 122-hasn't happened yet.
mm

DMC

Strange porkies, who ever is says that... the ITV press release says 226 for ITV2.

Yea-I know-as my Dad always said-
WE must listen to Thunder
mm

Charles Slane

It's changed it's id from 3.5 to ITV2, so a launch on the (UK) EPG looks likely to happen soon.

Charles Slane

Apparently it's just appeared on 226 on the UK RPG (Wow !! That was fast !!)

Anybody see it on the Irish EPG ?

If not, is it still available in Other Channels ?

DMC

Interesting stuff....

The state of play seems to be, from other forums,

* ITV2 is not Free, it is only available to UK Family Pack subscribers and beyond

* ITV2 is not there for Irish Sky Cards

* Anyone in the ROI with a BBC card digibox wont see it.

I dont think anyone saw that coming...

The other unknown variable is, can viewers in NI see ITV2?

icdg

Eeek...there's me after saying on the site it was in the Value Pack...can't correct till Monday.

Off to the land of London Weekend Television till then...guys, please keep it civil while I'm gone...

Hopefully UTV and Sky will have at least started talks by then, and UTV remains available in Other Channels.

byte

Originally posted by icdg
Eeek...there's me after saying on the site it was in the Value Pack...can't correct till Monday.

Off to the land of London Weekend Television till then...guys, please keep it civil while I'm gone...

Hopefully UTV and Sky will have at least started talks by then, and UTV remains available in Other Channels.

Hope you're right Ronan regarding UTV remaining available as I am starting to lose faith.

Originally posted by Irishbyte:

Well as I posted in another ITV thread, I got a reply to an email to UTV which states that the ball is in Skys court regarding UTV on ROI EPG. Hmm. Will we see it on EPG soon? Will we EVER see it on EPG. I can safely assume that some/all of the 16 regions will encrypt as ITV hardly paid £17m. for CA and still have them FTA

I hope I'm wrong-but It would not surprise me if we didn't see UTV or ITV2 on the Irish EPG untill April.
Come one ,Come all so to speak.
I'm assuming,TV3 cannot go on untill RTE are there and that tv3's shareholders (Granada) would not be happy with UTV being there,taking viewers away from tv3.

IE: a typical Irish solution-again I hope I'm wrong!
mm

I was interupted before,I could make one more point:

NTL pay to have UTV and Ch 4 on their system.
If NTL pay the Beeb ( and Sky do for BBC1 and 2 NI already)
Why cant the same be done wrt UTV and Ch 4 for Sky subscribers and long and ever ago???-We already know that UTV want to be available in ROI on Sky.
Whats the difference-it's just a platform...
It's all politics pure and simple and a sad state of affairs

As I said above, and I hope I'm wrong-Come one , come all-It wouldn't surprise me :mad:
mm

Charles Slane

Who owns ITV2 ?

Is it all the ITV companies, or just Carlton and Granada ?

If UTV don't have a stake in ITV2, then they would have no interest in it being on the Irish EPG. All it would mean to them is more competition for advertising.

If they do own part of it, why do they have UTV2 ?

Maybe the merging of UTV2 into ITV2 would mean that UTV would then have a stake in ITV2 and would therefore have an interest in it being available on the Irish EPG (along with UTV when if and when it appears).

Anyone got any answers on the ownership questions ?

DMC

ITV 2 is owned now by Carlton and Granada, but originally also with United News and Media, when it owned Meridian, HTV and Anglia franchises.

It was the intention of the 2nd ITV channel to be dedicated to the nations, like the original BBC Choice, that is why there was an S2 for Scotland and a TV YOU from UTV. There was no HTV2, because Wales already had S4C.

It started off quite well, S2 had plenty of regional programming on it, and quite independent from the ITV 2 schedule, while TV YOU really only had a couple of opt outs from ITV2

So earlier this year, when the financial crises hit OnDigital, ITV went to SMG (Scottish Media Group who own Scottish TV and Grampian) ITV wanted to launch of the ITV Sport Channel on the SMG mux. In turn, they decided to kill off S2 and replace it with ITV2. There was financial renumeration to SMG for doing this.

UTV on the other has UTV2 now (was renamed at some point) but as ITV needed to host the ITV Sport Channel on the UTV mux, UTV wanted a decent price. It wasn't forthcoming, so thats why UTV2 is there and not ITV2 in Northern Ireland.

There was news that ITV2 would replace UTV2 earlier this month, but it hasn't happened yet.

Charles Slane

Are Sky subscribers in Northern Ireland now getting ITV2 ?

Richard

Originally posted by Charles Slane
I also noticed that when ITV2 closes down, it's next day's programme screen makes no mention of GMTV2, but there it is, large as life. Strange.

It might be that because the ITV Network don't have rights to broadcast 6:00-9:25 they get into a bit of a hump about it. Now I know SMG has a stake in GMTV - do Granada or Carlton? If so, my theory could be a load of rubbish.

Richard

Originally posted by DamoDMC
ITV 2 is owned now by Carlton and Granada, but originally also with United News and Media, when it owned Meridian, HTV and Anglia franchises.

Wasn't it just the ITV Network Centre?

It was the intention of the 2nd ITV channel to be dedicated to the nations, like the original BBC Choice, that is why there was an S2 for Scotland and a TV YOU from UTV. There was no HTV2, because Wales already had S4C.

Really? I think it was just SMG and UTV wanting to do their own things. The fact that S4C existed didn't stop a potential HTV2, it is just that UNM didn't want to give Wales an opt-out.

It started off quite well, S2 had plenty of regional programming on it, and quite independent from the ITV 2 schedule, while TV YOU really only had a couple of opt outs from ITV2

I think this was to save money, more than anything on UTV's part. The S2 schecule looked pretty impressive, though, with live "local" programmes.

UTV presumably have a share of the advertising revenue on ITV2, though I wonder who would get this revenue it if it launched in ROI.

Another thing is that ROI isn't officially in any region (for obvious reasons) so if UTV want to be in the EPG, other regions might say - "what about us"?

DMC

Originally posted by Richard


Wasn't it just the ITV Network Centre?

It may be operated by the network centre, but IIRC, it was a joint initiative in setting it up by Granada, Carlton and UNM.

Really? I think it was just SMG and UTV wanting to do their own things. The fact that S4C existed didn't stop a potential HTV2, it is just that UNM didn't want to give Wales an opt-out.

Yes, UNM was strapped for cash when On Digital started, so that is probably correct, but I remember reading at the time that its was a political decision to set up national ITV 2 stations. Might have been a scurrilous piece of journalism, it may have been in a Murdoch broadsheet

UTV presumably have a share of the advertising revenue on ITV2, though I wonder who would get this revenue it if it launched in ROI.

What advertising revenue??!!?!?!

Another thing is that ROI isn't officially in any region (for obvious reasons) so if UTV want to be in the EPG, other regions might say - "what about us"?

To be honest, the other regions must be jealous that UTV can find another source of revenue from outside their region. Things used to be freindly years ago when cable started in Dublin, and UTV appeared, but the other ITV companies dont like UTV. Could we see a mexican standoff on this one? What is the ITC's opinion on UTV's revenue sources from the ROI??