4HD and All4 Leaving Freesat

galtee boy · 20-02-2018 07:17PM

How much grief will CH4 get over this ? It may not be much, how many UK viewers rely solely on Freesat for their tv ? Not many I would guess.

Tigerandahalf · 20-02-2018 07:21PM

galtee boy wrote: »

How much grief will CH4 get over this ? It may not be much, how many UK viewers rely solely on Freesat for their tv ? Not many I would guess.

2m

Freeview is about 20m.

Sky about 8m

http://www.barb.co.uk/tv-landscape-reports/tracker-uk-households-by-tv-platform/

Alun · 20-02-2018 07:30PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Still showing full 7 day EPG here, which would be the same as that on the SD channel.

I've just deleted and reloaded the Freesat EPG on my Mediaportal setup, and the 4HD EPG only goes up to Saturday at 6am and no further. Normal channel 4 EPG is full 7 days.

Harry Palmr · 20-02-2018 07:41PM

they have my tweet! :mad:

Schwanz · 20-02-2018 08:00PM

Major loss this to Freesat, if ITV & BBC go this route then it could spell the end of the service.

Tigerandahalf · 20-02-2018 08:08PM

Schwanz wrote: »

Major loss this to Freesat, if ITV & BBC go this route then it could spell the end of the service.

BBC won't as they have a service obligation.
Freesat are a bbc/itv joint venture so perhaps those channels are safe.

I watch a small bit of rugby on C5HD and they also have the Championship highlights so any loss of HD there would be a blow.

Alun · 20-02-2018 08:51PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Ah, thanks ..... will try again later

Edit:

Was able to view clips ..... but no episodes played.

Oh well, I won't miss it as I never had it before

I just checked my account details on the All4 website and it appears I've entered a UK address so maybe that's it. Just look up some random UK address on Google and try that, I'm English so I used the address I grew up at

I'm not using a VPN though so it's certainly not geolocked.

Johnboy1951 · 20-02-2018 08:55PM

Alun wrote: »

I just checked my account details on the All4 website and it appears I've entered a UK address so maybe that's it. Just look up some random UK address on Google and try that, I'm English so I used the address I grew up at

I'm not using a VPN though so it's certainly not geolocked.

I think maybe it does not like that I use Linux and not Windows!

Even though if that is the case why are they showing me clips and not episodes?

I don't think I will bother ... not worth the effort to me.
Thanks for helping

Gerry Wicklow · 20-02-2018 09:03PM

Hopefully this is just grandstanding similar to the Discovery Vs Sky tiff a while back.

TheDriver · 20-02-2018 09:05PM

No harm sending c4 a message on their website. I used Belfast postcode as I assume they won't listen to ROI

dublinman1990 · 20-02-2018 09:24PM

When I read this story earlier; it certainly gave me a surprise considering I watch C4HD FTA on Satellite If 4HD goes off FTA by having a new deal with Sky; well it certainly would be a disgraceful move from Channel 4 if they try to pull tricks on more of their viewers. It could also show the broadcaster to be complete fools considering now that 4K broadcasting is very slowly becoming the norm across some parts of the world.

I just can't understand the amount of ad revenue they got from their last report. It is bizzare to say the least.

It said from July 2017; it reported £995 million from ad revenue. Just £5 million short of £1 billion?

Their programming budget is roughly half that amount at £500 million.

And now they don't want to pay a seemingly modest increase in new EPG fees to stay on Freesat?

This stuff just boggles my mind even more into a more confusing direction.

Channel 4 are certainly acting like spoilt brats if they are going the direction of getting more money from Sky in the future.

Atlantic Dawn · 20-02-2018 10:31PM

They were actually beginning to show some decent documentaries on it recently, will miss it myself in HD.

Alun · 21-02-2018 09:04AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

They were actually beginning to show some decent documentaries on it recently, will miss it myself in HD.

Not to mention formula one, for the upcoming season at least.

Gerry Wicklow · 21-02-2018 11:17AM

I'm still confused. It seems they are leaving Freesat because of increased fees. I haven't seen any mention of them going behind a paywall. Freesat is only an EPG service so they should be available FTA or have I missed something?

TheDriver · 21-02-2018 11:48AM

True hence carriage fees are only for EPG. If they are going up so much, why aren't all the small time channels jumping ship?

Johnboy1951 · 21-02-2018 11:50AM

Alun wrote: »

I've just deleted and reloaded the Freesat EPG on my Mediaportal setup, and the 4HD EPG only goes up to Saturday at 6am and no further. Normal channel 4 EPG is full 7 days.

I deleted the Ch.4 HD EPG data and reference on my tvheadend backend last night.
Then re-enabled it to automatically get the EPG.

This morning it has a full 7 Day EPG.

So for now, on FTA, there seems to be no impediment to full use.

Hopefully that situation remains for the future.

Alun · 21-02-2018 11:59AM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I deleted the Ch.4 HD EPG data and reference on my tvheadend backend last night.
Then re-enabled it to automatically get the EPG.

This morning it has a full 7 Day EPG.

So for now, on FTA, there seems to be no impediment to full use.

Hopefully that situation remains for the future.

Interesting. What method is your tvheadend setup using to get the EPG?

On my Mediaportal setup it's getting it from the official Freesat EPG frequency on 11426000kHz and definitely stops on Saturday morning.

EDIT: Just cranked up EPG Collector there to see how many entries they both find ...

            HD    SD
Freesat  102   249
Sky       226   226

lgs 4 · 21-02-2018 01:09PM

Any statement from Channel 4 to whats going to happen tomorrow?

PabloAndRoy · 21-02-2018 01:12PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I deleted the Ch.4 HD EPG data and reference on my tvheadend backend last night.
Then re-enabled it to automatically get the EPG.

This morning it has a full 7 Day EPG.

So for now, on FTA, there seems to be no impediment to full use.

Hopefully that situation remains for the future.

This might be coming from the "OpenTV: Sky UK" grabber. What is the EPG Source on the channel itself in the web gui? Mine for Channel 4 HD says "opentv-skyuk-4075: opentv-skyuk-4075 (OpenTV: Sky UK)"

I have both switched on and it seems to be the OpenTV one that most of my "Freesat" channels use for some reason, even though they are being populated to tvheadend via a Freesat Bouquet. I never figured that bit of tvheadend out properly. As long as it works I don't mess with it.

Anyway, if C4 HD stays FTA we can still get 7 day EPG on tvheadend via the OpenTV grabber.

Rick_ · 21-02-2018 02:12PM

The channel is coming off the Freesat EPG but will be staying FTA so you can tune it in on non-Freesat mode and you can continue to watch. This of course doesn't affect anyone already using a FTA receiver or Sky as nothing is changing in that sense. Hopefully it is just a stand-off and a deal will be struck last minute for Freesat viewers.

tsue921i8wljb3 · 21-02-2018 02:16PM

Another Freesat statement this time denying a change in charging for All4. I don't think Channel 4 have publicly commented on the matter yet.

http://www.seenit.co.uk/freesat-denies-trying-to-charge-channel-4-more-to-keep-its-catch-up-app-on-the-platform/

Johnboy1951 · 21-02-2018 02:26PM

Alun wrote: »

Interesting. What method is your tvheadend setup using to get the EPG?

On my Mediaportal setup it's getting it from the official Freesat EPG frequency on 11426000kHz and definitely stops on Saturday morning.

Over-the-air: OpenTV: Sky UK

opentv-skyuk-4075

Priority is set for OpenTV first, and then Freesat.

To ensure that I got a clean result overnight, I disabled the Freesat module, leaving the other one active.

@PabloAndRoy

The Grabbers have a 'priority' number set. The higher the number the greater priority is given to that grabber.

TheDriver · 21-02-2018 05:00PM

Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries.

Regrettably, as of Thursday 22 February, Channel 4HD and All4 will no longer be available on the Freesat platform.

We appreciate that viewers have received only a few days' notice from Freesat; Channel 4 provided notice to Freesat in line with its contractual commitments. This followed the notification by Freesat of major changes to its charging structure, significantly increasing Channel 4?s costs, which ultimately takes funding away from our investment in British programmes. To reduce the overall burden of these costs and make internal savings, we have withdrawn All 4 and Channel 4HD while we consider our long term relationship with Freesat.

Please note that the availability of Channel 4HD and All 4 on other platforms is unaffected and Channel 4HD remains available on Freeview, YouView, Sky and Virgin Media. Meanwhile All 4 can be accessed via our website, and a number of other devices such as iOS and Android apps, or on Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, YouView, Freeview Play, Roku and Now TV boxes, Chromecast, Playstation 3 and 4, Xbox One and 360, Windows Phone 8 and Windows 10.

In the meantime, our other channels on Freesat remain unaffected and continue to be available (Channel 4 SD, E4, More4, 4Seven, Film 4 and the associated +1 channels).

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards,

TheDriver · 21-02-2018 05:01PM

Bruce Careful Simulator wrote: »

Another Freesat statement this time denying a change in charging for All4. I don't think Channel 4 have publicly commented on the matter yet.

http://www.seenit.co.uk/freesat-denies-trying-to-charge-channel-4-more-to-keep-its-catch-up-app-on-the-platform/

“Channel 4 remains an important partner for Freesat and we hope our customers are able to enjoy All4 and 4HD on Freesat again soon.”

Alun · 21-02-2018 05:33PM

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Over-the-air: OpenTV: Sky UK

opentv-skyuk-4075

Priority is set for OpenTV first, and then Freesat.

To ensure that I got a clean result overnight, I disabled the Freesat module, leaving the other one active.

I'll have to do a bit of work to get the Sky EPG as there is no built in support for it in MP. There was a plugin that also supports series link but that's broken, so I had to revert to the Freesat EPG recently. To use the Sky EPG I'll have to use EPG collector to generate an XML file and import that.

Johnboy1951 · 21-02-2018 05:47PM

Alun wrote: »

I'll have to do a bit of work to get the Sky EPG as there is no built in support for it in MP. There was a plugin that also supports series link but that's broken, so I had to revert to the Freesat EPG recently. To use the Sky EPG I'll have to use EPG collector to generate an XML file and import that.

Sounds troublesome

I have no experience of mediaportal so no suggestions

Tigerandahalf · 21-02-2018 07:06PM

Channel 4 email
.....

"If you'd still like to enjoy All 4, you can find us at our website, on our iOS and Android apps, or on Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Youview, Freeview, Roku, Now TV, Chromecast, Playstation 3 and 4, Xbox One and 360, Windows Phone 8 and 10."

STB. · 21-02-2018 08:20PM

This has nothing to do with carriage. The EPG slot is 40k. Ch4's revenue last year was close to a billion of the queens money. Ch4 must have been looking for a seat at the table (remember they are not a shareholder in Freesat).

It means feck all in the scheme of things especially for those who are using E2 boxes. Business as usual. 7 day epg (ala Sky Openepg) continues as does the stations reception.

Tigerandahalf · 21-02-2018 09:04PM

Out of interest who owns Freeview, the UK equivalent of Saorview?

dxhound2005 · 21-02-2018 09:46PM

Kingofsat news is reporting that More 4 HD is gone from Sky. Along with TG4 HD and Chelsea TV HD on the same transponder.

http://en.kingofsat.net/news.php

4HD and All4 Leaving Freesat

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