C4 pulls HD and on-demand service from Freesat

C4 pulls HD and on-demand service from Freesat

Postby dutchman » Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:57 pm

Freesat has confirmed that Channel 4 is to cease broadcasting its HD and on-demand services on the platform

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The move, which takes place on Thursday 22nd February 2018, will see Channel 4 HD being removed from Freesat boxes, alongside on-demand and catch-up service All4, which was available on all second generation Freesat devices.

Channel 4 hasn't provided a reason why it has made the highly controversial move and Freesat says it hopes the channels will return in the future. Channel 4 has a deal with Sky which involves the encryption of its other HD channels. Legislation that requires the main public service broadcasters to be free-to-air on satellite and available via Freesat currently only apply to standard definition channels.

Freesat will continue to offer Channel 4 SD, alongside the existing SD offshoot channels E4, More 4, Film 4 and 4seven.

Affected viewers have been advised to contact Channel 4, who are responsible for the decision.

Channel 4 has reportedly said the decision to withdraw is due to Freesat increasing its fees for inclusion on its EPG.

Music channel 4Music - part of a joint venture between Channel 4 and Bauer Media - was removed from Freesat several weeks ago.

Freesat users that have recordings set for Channel 4 HD need to reset them to Channel 4 SD (104 or 120 in Wales); existing recordings stored on hard drives will continue to be available.

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Re: C4 pulls HD and on-demand service from Freesat

Postby dutchman » Tue Feb 27, 2018 7:40 pm

Freeview users drawn into C4/Freesat dispute

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Some Freeview viewers have been unwittingly drawn into a carriage fee dispute between Freesat and Channel 4, even though they don't have satellite TV.

Since 2014, a number of Panasonic Viera TVs have been equipped with Freesat's "Freetime" smart TV platform, giving viewers who only receive terrestrial signals the same interface and connected TV apps that Freesat users can receive, despite not having a satellite dish and albeit with the linear channels available on Freeview instead of Freesat.

Following last week's public fall-out over the cost of carrying Channel 4 HD on Freesat, which also saw on-demand service All4 being pulled, viewers using affected Panasonic TVs have reported that they have lost access to All4. A user has told us that All4 is greyed out in the menu.

This has caused confusion among some viewers who haven't realised their Freeview TV is powered by a system operated by Freesat. Because affected TVs connected to a traditional TV aerial receiving linear broadcasts from Freeview, Channel 4 HD is still available.

Last week, Channel 4 confirmed it was objecting to change in Freesat's pricing structure and wanted to take the opportunity to make "internal savings". Freesat responded saying the changes only affected HD channels, with no cost to carry on-demand services and therefore couldn't understand why Channel 4 had pulled on-demand service All4.

Freeview has confirmed that there will be no changes to the availability of Channel 4 HD and All4 on its platform, although Freeview can only directly control availability of All4 on devices that support Freeview Play.

For the time being, it seems, affected Panasonic Viera TV users will have to make do without All4. Both sides in the dispute are understood to still be discussing future options.

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