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ITV3 coming soon to more areas...

PostPosted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 11:54 am
by dutchman
Tests have commenced which are likely to enable viewers to receive more Freeview channels

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The test transmissions, which commenced across parts of NW England at midday, also pave the way for additional services to become available to those who can only receive a limited Freeview channel line-up.

The configuration of D3&4, the name given to the multiplex that carries the standard definition broadcast signal of ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, is being changed so it can carry up to 12, rather than the current 10 channels.

D3&4, alongside the BBC multiplexes, reaches around 98.5% of households, meaning that any extra channels carried following the configuration change will reach viewers who currently can only receive a reduced line-up of Freeview channels, typically those receiving via a relay transmitter. This is because many commercial channels are carried on multiplexes that aren't carried on relays.

As part of the tests, a hidden stream is now live carrying ITV3 alongside the broadcast signal of ITV from the Winter Hill transmitter in Lancashire. As a test broadcast, it can't be tuned in on regular Freeview devices. ITV and Freeview haven't confirmed the tests as yet, neither how soon viewers might be able to benefit. Additionally, there is additional capacity for yet another, as yet unidentified service on the same multiplex, indicating a further channel may yet join ITV3 in testing.

Currently ITV3 is broadcast to around 90% of UK households via the commercial SDN (COM4) multiplex, which is unavailable to viewers in some areas. The only exception are the Channel Islands, where capacity is used to broadcast ITV3 instead of ITV+1.

This is the latest in a series of configuration changes to the D3&4 multiplex, following improvements in encoder technology, which allows broadcasters to carry more channels in the same space.

The last channel to benefit from such a boost was ITV4, which in August 2015 switched to D3&4 and became universally available on Freeview. Prior to this, in 2013, Film4 was promoted to D3&4. D3&4 broadcasts different regional variants of ITV (and STV) and Channel 4 (advertising regions), so changes are configured on a region-by-region basis, with initial testing enabling checks to ensure that the wider regional roll-out can proceed. Despite Ofcom loosening rules on Freeview picture quality, all services in the test area are still using standard 720x576 SD resolution.

For viewers who can already receive ITV3, the change will mean that at a yet-to-be announced date, a retune will be required to continue watching ITV3, but that ITV3's current Freeview capacity can be recycled to provide space for another channel, or allow a reduced-hours channel to extend its time on Freeview.

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This news is especially important for viewers who rely on the local relay stations in Allesley Park, Kenilworth and Leamington who are currently unable to receive ITV3.

Re: ITV3 coming soon to more areas...

PostPosted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:49 pm
by dutchman
ITV3 duplicate goes live on Freeview

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A duplicated copy of ITV3, which has been testing on Freeview during the last month, has gone live on channel 788.

For viewers living in locations where only a reduced Freeview channel line-up is available, it means ITV3 can be received for the first time, albeit via a channel number right at the bottom of the list. The duplicate has been testing behind the scenes following a region-by-region configuration of ITV's Freeview capacity which has been taking place over the past few weeks.

The existing ITV3 service, available to around 90% of the UK, continues to occupy channel 10.

The duplicate copy of ITV3 on channel 788 uses a higher standard definition resolution of 720x576, compared to the 544x576 resolution on channel 10.

ITV has so far not made any announcement about the additional copy of ITV3 that has now gone live, but the addition comes during a busy period of frequency changes, where viewers on relays and main transmitters are being required to retune to continue receiving services. As such, viewers may notice ITV3 appearing on channel 788 after retuning their device, while some devices will automatically add the duplicate in the background.

  • This information also affects YouView (BT TV, TalkTalk TV, Plusnet TV) as well as EE TV and NOW TV Smart Box users.

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