ITV News Channel Gone...

JDxtra · 22-10-2002 10:10am #1

Just checked this morning - and the ITV News Channel (epg 525) has been removed from the Irish EPG. It's still there on a UK FTA card though of course, but it is not encrypted like ITV2 (thank God!).

Leesider · 22-10-2002 10:17am

...and has anybody given the slightest reason as to why ROI viewers lose out again?

It doesn't augur very well for ITV joining the ROI EPG, does it?

Pity they couldn't leave the ITV news channel on, and remove some of the garbage channels instead.

TinMan · 22-10-2002 11:26am

I just sent them a nasty mail, If I get a reply I will post it here.

DMC · 22-10-2002 11:27am

Has anyone rang Sky?

icdg · 22-10-2002 11:27am

Still on NTL as of this morning!

corm500 · 22-10-2002 12:04pm

This is what happens when people sit back and say nothing. I posted in a thread a while back that people should get angry about the treatment of ROI customers by sky. The replies that I got on the thread were pretty much of the " we should be happy with our lot variety". You get what you ask for. Ring sky, bug the hell out of them and tell them that you demand a proper service not a skeleton one. After all we pay them enough for the privilege.And don't take any of that " we are not responsible for the output of non sky channels" crap, they are our service providers. We demand better

Corm5000

jez · 22-10-2002 12:09pm

Since the ITV new channel was relaunched , I haven't even watched Sky News. Maybe that's the reason its gone. Competition for Sky. In the UK Sky have to carry those channels(BBC 24/ITV News).Here in Ireland they can corner the News market for themselves by not carrying them.

corm500 · 22-10-2002 12:33pm

Just been on to Sky. The rep (Craig) said that he was unaware of this as I was the first person to call about this. He said normally when there is to be a channel change they are sent notification. He was convinced that it was a problem with my set up and he would send the signal to my box so everything should be back to normal when I get home from work (yeah right). RING THEM. The phone no. is 1800 535 767.
On another note I asked him about c4/utv coming & he said he was aware that they they are coming but was not at liberty to say when. I hope his info on this is better than the news channel.

Corm5000

Icehouse · 22-10-2002 12:39pm

Not (completely) unrelated :

Oftel throws out ITV complaint

Dan Milmo
Tuesday October 22, 2002

The telecoms watchdog has thrown out ITV's complaint over the price BSkyB charges the network to broadcast its programmes on digital satellite TV.

ITV pays around £17m a year in "conditional access" charges to BSkyB, covering the cost of encrypting its broadcasts and ensuring that regional programming does not spill over into other areas.

However, Oftel, the telecoms watchdog, said BSkyB's Sky Subscribers Services Limited subsidiary had set "reasonable" terms for using its services.

"Oftel found no evidence to support ITV's complaint that SSSL's charges for access to their satellite network were unreasonable, unfair or discriminatory. Oftel has therefore rejected ITV's complaint," said Peter Waller, Oftel's deputy director general.

ITV said it was "disappointed" with the decision, which is not related to a separate Office of Fair Trading investigation into the wholesale price of BSkyB's premium sports and film packages.

"We are disappointed that Oftel has reached this conclusion and still refuses to accept our argument that public service broadcasters should not be subsidising the cost of Sky's commercial network," said an ITV spokesman.

BSkyB said its did not deserve to be punished for its contribution to the growth of multi-channel TV in the UK.

"As the operator of the only digital platform that is open to all UK broadcasters, BSkyB welcomes Oftel's confirmation that SSSL's conditional access charges are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory.

"This approach to conditional access charges has contributed to the enormous growth of digital television in the UK," said a BSkyB spokesman.

irishgeo · 22-10-2002 12:39pm

The reason its gone is they are going to champions league action on the channel in the UK.

Its all here on digital spy http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?threadid=39588

Thats the only reason its gone but why not just block the football when it is on.

carrolls · 22-10-2002 2:02pm

Correct.
I was watching the Premiership on ITV last night and the presenter said that the Newcastle vs Juventus match will be on on ITV news on ALL digital platforms.
Has anyone tried tuning it in on the Other Channels option?

Leesider · 22-10-2002 2:07pm

I phoned Sky a while ago, to ask what the story was.
The operator said it was the first she hear of it, and went to check it out with her 'technical dept'. She then said ITV (ITN News)never should have broadcast in the republic, that it was 'an oversight', and now it's been rectified. I explained that it had been available for a few years, and she still said we had 'no right' to view it, and now they had rectified the situation, and it wouldn't be coming back (for us).

So there.

carrolls · 22-10-2002 2:16pm

Another couple of thousand subscriptions cancelled in one fail swoop.

ShaneOC · 22-10-2002 2:56pm

Originally posted by carrolls
Another couple of thousand subscriptions cancelled in one fail swoop.

While it is annoying/dissappointing that the channel has vanished from Irish EPG's I can't see a few thousand people cancelling their subscriptions because of it.

Sky's PR department could handle issues such as this in a much better manner though. Jesus, any kind of statement would be an improvement over the outright removal of a channel.

Sky's reputation as a service provider is being diminished daily by the NTL and Chorus advertisements. They are doing nothing to couteract this, if anything they are adding fuel to the fire.

corm500 · 22-10-2002 2:58pm

"an oversight". Jesus Christ. This story is getting dodgier as the day goes on. If this is the case then Sky have been making an "oversight" on their publicity material since digital came to the republic. We are being conned.

Corm5000

Robert · 22-10-2002 5:45pm

Itv news channel is still available on the add channels function

Frequency 12032
Polarisation H
Symbol Rate 27.500
FEC 2/3

potoole · 22-10-2002 5:49pm

Itv news channel is still available on the add channels function

how long will that last?

22-10-2002 8:00pm

Originally posted by potoole
how long will that last?

sssshhh....!
Say nothing and it will stay:rolleyes:
Complain to ITV and soon there will be a "08" channel unavailable message.
mm

The Gopher · 22-10-2002 8:53pm

Bloody hell-for a handful of matches that will most probably only be shown on the news channel because of schedule probs on ITV they take away the channel?Bollocks!
How about removing some shopping channels instead?Last time I checked there were 50 I think:eek: Well,maybe not but a few dozen anyway.The overload of these channels has been causing me probs on the search and scan banner:mad:

Mossy Monk · 22-10-2002 9:51pm

i rang them today because i was bored and needed someone to talk to. i was told that viewers in the ROI never had the channel. i went on to say how ITN was there since i got Sky Digital and was told that was impossible. those people are as thick as 2 ditches. ignorant to say the least :mad:

Charles Slane · 22-10-2002 10:55pm

It's so frustrating to see a channel disappear from the Irish service.

And it's even more frustrating to hear the stupid explanation given by the Sky Digital idiots.

Next thing they'll be removing TG4 and telling us that we never had it and never should.

And what the hell is wrong with these companies that they can't sort out these rights issues ?

ITN/ITV News had a very small audience and it just got smaller. Don't be at all surprised if it closes down in the not too distant future. And good enough for it !!

Aquos76 · 22-10-2002 11:11pm

I rang both Sky and ITV this afternoon and I was told the same by both. They told me that due to broadcasting rights ITV were only allowed to show champions league games in the UK so there for with the closure of ITV Digital there was no other platform which they could use to broadcast the extra game on a Wednesday night so they would be using ITV News .Therefore from Tuesday 22nd Oct Until Thursday 14th Nov ITV News would be removed from the EPG for ROI.

When I questioned why they could not just encrypt the channel for the two hours or so I was told that it was a very complex thing to do and it was to much effort for three matches so the easist thing to do was remove the channel entirely for the three week period.

How come RTE/NET2 never had any problems blocking GAA before the rights issue was sorted out. Also if the BBC can block out certion regions on a FTV card e.g... Northern Ireland Match against Spain was blocked on Scottish FTV card last weekend, why not ITV.

How are we in ROI going to be fixed next year when SKY/ITV start to broadcast the Champions Lge? Are we not going to be able to get it due to the fact that TV3 have rights here in the Republic? I suppose we will only have to wait and see what happens over the coming months.

TinMan · 23-10-2002 6:50am

Response to the e-Mail I sent them yesterday, A reply within 1 day I am impressed

Thank you for your e-mail about the ITN News channel.

From 6am on Tuesday 22 October 2002 until 6am Thursday 14 November 2002 the
ITN News channel will not be available in Eire. This is because during this
period the channel will be screening Uefa Championship League matches for
which it does not have Irish TV rights. The service will reappear on the EPG
in Eire from November 14th.

Thank you for your continued interest in Sky.

Kind regards

Dianne Main
Viewer Relations

watty · 23-10-2002 7:36am

Have you tried adding it manually via "Add Channels"
12.031 (approx)
Horizontal
SR= 27,5
FEC = 2/3 (assumed)

ITV news is still FTA.
Still works on my PC.

Power up your ROI box with NO card.
When it asks for card don't put one in.

You will have a nice EPG with ONLY the FTA programs on it!
(Type 181 or "guide" | "All Programs" when asked for card.)
BBC Radio and BBC Parliament will also be on the EPG. But not BBC TV, UTV, C4, "five"

speedfreak · 23-10-2002 8:32am

The service will reappear on the EPG

...I'm not happy that they have to remove it for 3wks to blank out a few footie games but I'm just glad its coming back! SKY news or FOX news isnt much of a choice....

dmeehan · 23-10-2002 9:04am

itv obviously dont understand the concept of "Brand Loyalty"
otherwise they wouldnt be cutting us out from the best news channel on sky, even if it is only for a few weeks

muppets!

icdg · 23-10-2002 12:20pm

And its still on NTL...maybe we're too small to count, or perhaps its due to the 35% share NTL have in the ITV News Channel!

Will we see the football though, I wonder? Our EPG still says "May not be available in all regions".

watty · 23-10-2002 1:21pm

Are they going to encrypt? or just hide it on EPG.
It is still FTA today. (No encryption)
Has anyone checked booting box with No card?

jez · 23-10-2002 2:07pm

If you keep going on about it they'll probably encrypt it.

Why don't we say nothing until the 14th November and hopefully enjoy the channel in the meantime!!

Mr. Sign · 23-10-2002 3:47pm

Damn them Jocks, Same as above

ShaneOC · 23-10-2002 4:08pm

Originally posted by Mr. Sign
After reading Robert's thread with the frequencies for ITV News yesterday, I entered it in today so I could watch the match tonight and as per usual they've knocked it off.

The worst message ever, the 08 Infromation message was there.

I'm on to Sky again, but not holding my breath.

The Newcastle / Juventus match which is on the ITV News Channel is also being shown live on TV3.

ITV2 are showing the Man United Match.

watty · 23-10-2002 4:45pm

Originally posted by jez
If you keep going on about it they'll probably encrypt it.

Why don't we say nothing until the 14th November and hopefully enjoy the channel in the meantime!!

oh if only ITV/C4 /Sky did take notice..

ITV2 Still FTA today on two "hidden" channels

I heard elsewhere that ITV News *Has* been encrypted time to time so it probabily will be.

watty · 23-10-2002 6:12pm

14th November?

Dunno why they removed it from EPG.

It's encrypted. 1900 hrs 23rd Oct 2002 (Very black screen on my PC)

Will it stay that way or "come back" between games?

Is it a daft idea using a 24hr news channel for football matches?

I mean how many people who are Avid news addicts are sport addicts and vice versa?

... I never watched ITN anyway...

Ohhh whats all the green stuff and little ball on the two FTA ITV-2 channels hidden from digiboxes... Could it be the SAME match they are encrypting ITV NEWS for? Dunno, football an arcane mystery to me

... later
Hmm. Boring blokes in studio "talking" about football. And ITV news Channel now/next EPG (which still works on PC) claims it is an exclusive match so I guess the ITV2 is something else.

I'm going off to talk to my Guinea Pig and figure out the Philips VCD2.0 authoring package I just got.

.......
Re: Footy on ITV-2
Also a mystery is why some "twot" transmits 4:3 material with curtains at the side in animorphic 16:9 so as to degrade quality on a WS and 4:3 TV.

DMC · 23-10-2002 6:22pm

Encrypted. Bugger.

Anyways... The reason ITV News are showing the game, is because ITV dont have enough channels, since the collapse of ITV Digital.

ITV1 or UTV show only one Tuesday night game

ITV2 show matches on both Tuesday and Wednesday night

and ITV News show the other Wednesday night game.

As the first stage ends, there will be less pressure to show 2 games on a Wednesday night, so ITV News will revert to a 24 hr news channel again.

byte · 23-10-2002 7:36pm

Originally posted by watty
Re: Footy on ITV-2
Also a mystery is why some "twot" transmits 4:3 material with curtains at the side in animorphic 16:9 so as to degrade quality on a WS and 4:3 TV.

This really p155es me off too. I would rather they left it as 4:3 so that I can stretch the picture to fit my widescreen telly. the stupid curtains do nothing to help the picture and are distracting!

Back on topic, it least ITV News will return! Better than being removed permanently! It is much better to watch since the revamp. The footie on it will help its popularity too, I guess (at least, in UK).

icdg · 23-10-2002 7:55pm

The channel has now also gone from NTL.

But....unlike Sky, this isn't a CAS blocking. The channel is still on the EPG, and as far as the system is concerned is still broadcasting. There's not even the NTL version of the 08 message appearing.

Somebody appears to have pulled the plug manually. All we see is a blank screen. However, hopefully this means that it'll be back at 10pm for cable viewers.

So why couldn't Sky employ this system?

watty · 23-10-2002 9:30pm

Well it's 22:30 and ITV News is still encrypted on Sky.

watty · 23-10-2002 9:37pm

The ITV News while not FTA, is FTV. Perhaps since anyone in UK can watch it and since it nearly the worst FTA in Europe News, they don't really worry about non-UK viewers.
FTA in Europe if not always free on Sky:
DW TV
BBC World
Europe By Satellite / Ebs
RTPI
24 Horas
RAI 24
Nile TV
Al Jazera
Euronews
CNBC
NBC Europe
Bloomberg (Eng and De versions)
Daimler / Chrysler (OK I streaching it)
Fox News
Sky News
CNN
Some CCTV4 and CCTV9 in English
Some JSTV in english
ANN
INN/IRIB

watty · 24-10-2002 7:36am

8:37am 24th oct 2002
ITV News still encrtpted for FTV, not FTA.
(Perhaps they are short of people to press buttons)

Hidden ITV-2 feeds still FTA (But it too early in morining for Bananas in Pajamas)

Gunn4r · 24-10-2002 7:52am

I have NTL Digital and last night the ManU game was not shown on ITV news Channel.

I have just spoken to the mongs in NTL and this was due to "contractual issues as TV3 were showing champ league"

Genghis · 24-10-2002 9:59am

The ManU game was not shown on the ITV News Channel anywhere! The ITV News Channel showed the Newcastle Juventas game, ITV2 showed the Manchester United game.

So the game you missed on ITV News was the same game as was shown on TV3.

watty · 24-10-2002 10:10am

And if you have a NOT-Digibox Digital Satellite Receiver, ITV-2 is free / clear
(Form an orderly queue at my door please!)

icdg · 24-10-2002 12:54pm

Be thankful that we haven't lost the channel completely like DSat viewers.

Thread merged with the existing thread.

icdg · 24-10-2002 12:58pm

Originally posted by icdg

Somebody appears to have pulled the plug manually. All we see is a blank screen. However, hopefully this means that it'll be back at 10pm for cable viewers.

Sure enough, ITV News Channel returned to NTL at 9:50pm, in time for the post-match analysis.

byte · 26-10-2002 12:31pm

Originally posted by watty
And if you have a NOT-Digibox Digital Satellite Receiver, ITV-2 is free / clear
(Form an orderly queue at my door please!)

I have tried to watch it a few nights now but didn't realise the channel was that bad! But it is! I would rather watch Life TV*

*some exaggeration may have been used in this sentance!

watty · 26-10-2002 7:52pm

Accidently I found a program to watch on the ITV-2. First Time! A wildlife thingy.
ITV NEWS gone encrypted still.
No shortage of FTA news.. including the Bizzare VOA/CSPAN/Worldnet feeds on Hotbird (SR 8300 ish so no good on your Sky Digerydoo box)

byte · 27-10-2002 1:04pm

Originally posted by watty
No shortage of FTA news.. including the Bizzare VOA/CSPAN/Worldnet feeds on Hotbird (SR 8300 ish so no good on your Sky Digerydoo box)

Must get myself a Hotbird feed!

(Is BBC World FTA on digital or just analogue format)?

ITV News Channel Gone...

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