A Few questions/observations

UK Sky viewer

First of all, I was wondering if someone can explain to me why it is that, living in England, I can get BBC2 from Scotland, Wales and NI, but the BBC1 channels are blocked. I know they show basically the same stuff, but it would've been handy from my point of view as their late night progs sometimes start a bit later than BBC1 England, which would save me having to tape them as I work late. Also, I was watching Baddiel and Skinner unplanned on UTV (it had already started on YTV when I got in) and there was real problems during the ad break. I was wondering if that happens often.

okonski

Regionalised version of BBC 1 are promised, but the original reason put forward was usually based on sporting rights - matches in England or Scotland were paif for on the basis of home consumption in the same country. Originally BBC2 was always national - BBC1 had regional opt-outs with local programming. Now, with BBC's regions having access to BBC2 to place their programes (or to mess around with schedules), BBC1 can still offer this 'protection' for sporting rights, but as I noted earlier, the BBC has said it plans to make - where possible - the regional output of BBC1 available.

Incidentally, I just got back from the Canary Islands, and the hotel I was staying in has BBC1 Wales, and BBC2 Scotland. Nothing like keeping the Celts happy!

Gadgie

Originally posted by UK Sky viewer
First of all, I was wondering if someone can explain to me why it is that, living in England, I can get BBC2 from Scotland, Wales and NI, but the BBC1 channels are blocked.

And you're asking on an Irish board because....?

Glenn

John R

Problems on UTV, shock horror!

What sort of problems were they? If it was just a 'back soon' card that is down to them not selling all the ad space.

They are not that bad usually, certainly not as bad as they used to be. It wasn't unknown for late night programmes to go into an ad break and never return, 45 minutes of black screen.
It took them a very long time to get used to network programmes in widescreen, aspect ratios all over the place. I don't know if that was common on other regions as well though.

John R

Originally posted by Glennus


And you're asking on an Irish board because....?

Glenn

Irish people have an answer for everything

UK Sky viewer

I asked on here because it seems that people from all over the UK and Ireland post on here and do seem to know everything. I'm only a novice, you see, having only had sky for 2 weeks. I can understand them blocking the football etc but it seems a bit silly that they stop English viewers from seeing programmes that have been shown earlier on BBC 1 England. As I said, it would've been nice to use it like ITV2, where you can catch up with programmes if you work late, without having to go to the bother of taping them.

Tony

Originally posted by UK Sky viewer
I asked on here because it seems that people from all over the UK and Ireland post on here and do seem to know everything. I'm only a novice, you see, having only had sky for 2 weeks. I can understand them blocking the football etc but it seems a bit silly that they stop English viewers from seeing programmes that have been shown earlier on BBC 1 England. As I said, it would've been nice to use it like ITV2, where you can catch up with programmes if you work late, without having to go to the bother of taping them.

Dont want to put you off posting but our knowledge here is generally limited to the ROI/NI viewing situation which is quite different to GB.

Regards Tony

DMC

Not completely Tony, a few of us here have a very good understanding on British viewers issues! (slips on anorak)
Sit back for a brief history

The reason behind why we can see BBC 2 regions on Sky is that originally, BBC Choice had a lot of regional programming. BBC Choice NI had an opt-out from 10pm to midnight, 7 days a week, which had in-vision continuity, Newsline and the 11th Hour, and all the best bits of the stuff they showed on the main BBC 1 and BBC 2.

When the BBC decided to make BBC Choice the test bed for BBC 3, and make its output purely youth based and away from the complimentary channel that it was, so did the regional variations died. The decision, aroundabout this time last year, was to make the regional programmes available on BBC 2 NI and so on. BBC 2 W (Wales) embraced this, by opting out of the network BBC 2 completely with Welsh news at 9pm and local programmes until Newsnight, whereas us watching BBC 2 NI had the likes of The John Kelly Show on a Saturday or Sunday night. Mostly, the programme each evening at 8pm differs from analogue BBC 2 Northern Ireland.

The idea for BBC Choice was an excellent one, its a pity it had to change, because some thought it should be "hip". The original 'Choice had a loyal audience, as anyone who had a weakness for Kathy Clugston can testify

Tonight, BBC 2 W is not showing the UEFA Cup Final, all other variants on BBC 2, analogue and digital, are showing it.

For those who dont remember or never saw what BBC Choice NI looked like have a butchers at this. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/rlogue/choice.htm

(/Hangs anorak back up)

Tony

Originally posted by DamoDMC
Not completely Tony, a few of us here have a very good understanding on British viewers issues! (slips on anorak)
Sit back for a brief history

I stand corrected

Our man in Havana

LOL

John Q

Also, I was watching Baddiel and Skinner unplanned on UTV (it had already started on ITV when I got in) and there was real problems during the ad break. I was wondering if that happens often. [/B][/QUOTE]

Well its better than getting the message 08

This channel is not available and a blue screen, like most of the sky digital subscribers in the Republic of Ireland

icdg

The problem with BBC ONE is rights issues. The Nations timeshift programming a lot (Take a look at Friday night at BBC ONE NI for an example). The BBC say that so much as a five minute timeshift counts as a repeat, for which they have to pay Equity quite a bit of money. They are trying to sort the issue out though. BBC TWO nations do not timeshift quite as much.

As for UTV, Havelock House is famously run by computer overnight. (Which for UTV, starts as soon as the late night UTV Live bulitten is over). Things have been known to go wrong quite a bit. Legend has it that once a security guard had to tell viewers that there was a programme fault... As late as last year, an entire film got replaced by the previous week's ITV Nightscreen one Saturday night.

One measily engineer to man the control desk, that's all we ask...

byte

Originally posted by icdg

As for UTV, Havelock House is famously run by computer overnight. (Which for UTV, starts as soon as the late night UTV Live bulitten is over). Things have been known to go wrong quite a bit. Legend has it that once a security guard had to tell viewers that there was a programme fault... As late as last year, an entire film got replaced by the previous week's ITV Nightscreen one Saturday night.

One measily engineer to man the control desk, that's all we ask...

LMAO! I didn't know this before! Strange to think that a security guard has to double as a trainee engineer!!!:D

UK Sky viewer

First of all John Q, I felt the same as you when I put on RTE and Network 2, and got the same message. Anyway, I shall be watching Baddiel and Skinner with interest tonight to see if there are any more technical hitches. At least I know now why it all went pear shaped during the ads.

jez

I'm using this thread to avoid creating yet more short lived ones.

My question is

When I go on holidays next month for two weeks should I put my two decoders on standby ( 1 UK, 1 Irish) or power off completely.
If I power off my concern relates to the UK box.Is there a possibility of permanent loss of BBC Channels. My concern is leaving boxes plugged in whilst away. Can I seasoned satellite expert advise me and possibly put my mind at rest regarding this issue.

Many Thanks

DMC

I often leave my UK digibox unplugged for ages, maybe weeks on end and the channels do sometimes disappear.

I leave the box on overnight, and they all come back. Hasnt failed once.

Originally posted by jez
I'm using this thread to avoid creating yet more short lived ones.

My question is

When I go on holidays next month for two weeks should I put my two decoders on standby ( 1 UK, 1 Irish) or power off completely.
If I power off my concern relates to the UK box.Is there a possibility of permanent loss of BBC Channels. My concern is leaving boxes plugged in whilst away. Can I seasoned satellite expert advise me and possibly put my mind at rest regarding this issue.

Many Thanks

Is there any fire risk by leaving them on standby or worse still lightening!
My brothers aerial was struck last week,Tv and video circuitry burned.
The digibox escaped-mindyou the dish is on a side wall.
mm