Alternate Freeview world

Freeview channel list (23 Nov 2005, also their respective MUX)

1 BBC ONE PSB1
2 BBC TWO PSB1
3 ITV1 PSB2
4 Channel 4 PSB2
5 five PSB2
6 ITV2 PSB2
7 BBC Alba PSB1
8 Cardiff TV LOC
9 BBC Scotland PSB1
10 ITV3 PSB2
11 Sky Three COM5
12 ABC1 COM6
13 E4 PSB2
14 FilmFour PSB2
15 Channel 4 +1 PSB2
16 QVC COM4
17 UKTV Gardens COM5
18 More 4 PSB2
19 UKTV Bright Ideas COM5
20 UKTV Drama COM4
21 five US COM4
22 TJC COM4
23 BBC THREE PSB1
24 BBC FOUR PSB1
25 UKTV Style COM6
26 ITV4 PSB2
27 UKTV History COM6
28 Granada Breeze PSB2
29 ITV2 +1 COM4
30 E4+1 PSB2
31 E4 Extra COM5
32 fiveLife COM4
33 ftn COM4
34 GREAT! movies COM6
35 ITV1 +1 PSB2
36 Bid TV COM5
37 Price-drop TV COM4
38 five +1 COM4
39 DMAX COM6
40 S4C2 COM5
41 TMF COM4
42 GREAT! action COM4
43 Food Network COM5
44 HGTV COM6
45 Gems TV COM5
46 Men and Motors PSB3
47 Quiz Call COM5
48 Challenge COM5
49 Community COM5
50 GREAT! tv COM6
51 Ideal World COM6
52 GREAT! romance COM6
53 TG4 NIMUX
54 RTÉ 1 NIMUX
55 RTÉ 2 NIMUX
56 That's TV (UK) COM6
57 The Hits PSB3
58 Bad Movies COM4
59 Hallmark COM4
60 CBS UK COM5
61 GREAT! mystery COM4
62 GREAT! romance mix COM6
63 Here to Stay! COM6
64 Carlton Cinema COM4
65 That's TV 2 COM5
66 TBN UK PSB3
67 TRUE CRIME COM4
68 TRUE CRIME XTRA COM4
69 LEGEND XTRA LOC
70 QUEST +1 COM5
71 That's TV 3 PSB2
72 Jewellery Maker COM6
73 HobbyMaker COM6
74 L!VE TV COM4
75 That's Melody COM6
76 That's Dance COM5
77 That's Melody MCR GMAN
78 That's Fabulous GMAN
79 That's Dance MCR GMAN
80 That's TV (UK) MCR GMAN
81 ITV News Channel COM4
82 TalkingPictures TV COM6
83 Together TV COM4
84 PBS America COM6
86 That's TV 2 MCR GMAN
87 That's TV 3 MCR GMAN
88 TV Warehouse GMAN
89 Shop on TV COM4
90 Together TV +1 COM6
91 WildEarth COM4
92 TV Warehouse+1 GMAN
93 Screenshop COM4
95 Rewind TV COM6
96 SonLife COM5
100 Freeview PSB2
201 CBBC PSB1
202 CBeebies PSB1
203 CBBC HD PSB3
204 CBeebies HD PSB3
205 POP LOC
206 Tiny Pop LOC
207 POP UP COM6
208 Kix! COM4
209 Ketchup TV COM4
210 Ketchup Too COM4
211 YAAAS! COM4
213 Moochi COM4
231 BBC News PSB1
232 BBC Parliament PSB1
233 Sky News COM5
236 GB News COM6
250 BBC Red Button PSB1
251 Al Jazeera Eng COM4
252 Al Jazeera Arabic COM4
253 Trailblazer COM4
254 On Demand 365 COM4
255 FRANCE 24 COM4
256 Odyssey TV COM4
258 Men and Motors COM4
259 MBC COM4
260 ASHARQ NEWS COM4
261 AL ARABIYA COM4
262 Shots! COM4
263 Sonlife COM4
264 Alaraby Network COM4
265 ROK COM4
266 Revelation TV COM4
267 God TV COM4
268 3ABN COM4
269 New Media TV LOC
270 Yomiuri Television COM6
271 Ehime Broadcasting Company/JOEI-TV COM4
272 NHK WORLD COM4
273 Hiroshima Home TV COM4
274 Amazing Facts COM4
275 wedotv movies COM4
276 CNA COM4
277 UK Radio Portal COM4
278 Nosey COM4
279 Purpose Media COM4
280 Talk COM4
281 EXTREME CHANNEL COM4
282 GINX TV COM4
283 Global Arabic TV + LOC
284 GIGS COM4. Write a forum conversation Nov 29 2005, 4 "non-important" channels are to leave or close on Freeview to make room for Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon, MTV Hits and CITV, A user's money is on Carlton Cinema and ITV News Channel closing, The latter because ITV have been subjecting it to relentless budget cuts and sackings (transferring the money to the main ITV News on ITV1), and also cutting it's hours from 6am to 6pm so ITV4 can have the rest, the former because after Carlton and Granada merged into ITV, and Carlton Cinema came under management of Granada Sky Broadcasting, it (and ITV in general) have left it on autopilot.

Forum Thread - Freeview Channel Changes Discussion (29 Nov 2005)

User1:
Has anyone heard any rumours about some Freeview channels being dropped to make space for the new additions like Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon, MTV Hits, and CITV? I heard they need to clear four slots.

User2:
Yeah, I’m guessing Carlton Cinema and the ITV News Channel are definitely on the chopping block. ITV has been pretty quiet about the News Channel and it’s been getting smaller with all the budget cuts. They’ve already slashed its broadcast hours heavily in favour of ITV4 getting more airtime.

User3:
Makes sense about Carlton Cinema too. Since the Carlton and Granada merger, ITV seems pretty indifferent to the channel. Granada Sky Broadcasting managing it has pretty much left it running on autopilot. Low viewership doesn’t help either.

User4:
That leaves two more slots to free up. Any guesses? Maybe some of the lesser shopping channels or possibly some of the less popular “free” lifestyle or hobby channels like Bid TV or Price-drop TV?

User2:
Could be. They probably want to keep the bigger entertainment and mainstream PSB channels solid. It’ll suck if some niche or locally-focused channels go though.

User5:
I think ITV News Channel’s cut to 6am-6pm is a strong sign. If they were investing in it, would they restrict its hours and transfer budget elsewhere? Probably not. Also, Carlton Cinema doesn’t have any new programming or promotions anymore, so it’s basically filler.

User1:
Exactly my thoughts. Could be a shame for the loyal viewers of those channels, but understandable given the new kids on the block arriving.

User3:
Yeah, it’s sad but times change. Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon, MTV Hits, and CITV are likely to bring bigger audiences and ad revenue. Freeview’s got limited bandwidth on COM4 and COM6, so tough decisions are inevitable.

User4:
I wonder what dates they'll be making the official announcements and how fast the changes will happen. I guess sometime over December or early next year?

User2:
Probably early 2006, after the Christmas period. It’d give them time to prepare and advertise the new channels. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the best of the rest survives!

Summary:

Carlton Cinema and ITV News Channel are the frontrunners for removal due to ITV’s budget cuts and lack of investment.
Two other ‘non-important’ or lower priority channels (possibly shopping or niche hobby channels) are likely to be dropped to accommodate the new kids on the Freeview block: Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon, MTV Hits, and CITV.
The community is generally accepting but a bit sad about losing some favorite smaller channels.
End of thread

Write a reply with the 4 slots that MUST be vacant by January 1

User6:
Just to add some clarity, from what I’m hearing behind the scenes, the four slots that must be freed up by January 1st to make way for Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon, MTV Hits, and CITV are:

Carlton Cinema (Channel 64) – As expected, it’s all but abandoned since the ITV-Granda merger, and no fresh content has been coming through.
ITV News Channel (Channel 81) – With hours cut drastically and ongoing budget squeezes, it’s clear ITV is phasing this out to focus resources on ITV4 and its main news service.
Price-drop TV (Channel 37) – A low priority shopping channel, it’s likely to go since COM4 needs to clear space for new entertainment content.
Bid TV (Channel 36) – Another shopping channel running on COM5 which is expected to be replaced or shuffled to create capacity for Paramount Comedy and MTV Hits.
This lineup matches the capacity constraints on the COM4 and COM5 muxes and the need for bandwidth by the newcomers. I’d bet the official announcements will confirm this before the New Year.

Write a reply saying we know what 2 channels are replacing the 2 ITV services that are being shuttrered

User7:
Yep, it’s pretty clear what’s coming in to replace those two ITV channels. Paramount Comedy is taking over the slot left by Carlton Cinema, and CITV is stepping into the place of the ITV News Channel.

Both fit perfectly with ITV’s push to focus more on entertainment and kids’ programming rather than niche or underperforming news services on Freeview. So while it’s sad to see those two ITV channels go, at least their replacements look like they’ll bring fresh, popular content that a wider audience will enjoy.

Write a reply saying Nick and MTV will probs replace the 2 Bid Shopping services

User8:
That makes a lot of sense. Looks like Nickelodeon and MTV Hits will probably be taking over the slots currently occupied by Bid TV and Price-drop TV. Both are shopping channels that don’t pull huge audiences, so clearing those two frees up valuable space on COM4 and COM5 for more mainstream entertainment channels like Nick and MTV.

It's a smart move to swap out low-viewership shopping channels for youth-focused music and kids’ content that should attract way more viewers and advertisers.

Write a conversation where ITV News closes on all platforms on Dec 23, Carlton Cinema likewise, Not sure if the Bid channels close everywhere or just Freeview

Forum Thread – Freeview Channel Updates (Dec 24, 2005)

User1:
Has anyone else noticed that the ITV News Channel and Carlton Cinema both shut down completely yesterday, December 23rd? Seems like they’ve closed on all platforms, not just Freeview.

User2:
Yeah, I saw that too. ITV News Channel’s end feels final now. No more limited hours or anything — it’s just gone. I wasn’t sure if it was just a Freeview thing, but it looks like they pulled the plug across cable and satellite as well.

User3:
Same here for Carlton Cinema. It’s completely off air everywhere. I guess after being on autopilot for months, ITV/Granada just decided enough is enough.

User4:
What about the Bid TV channels? Have they closed everywhere or is it just on Freeview? I noticed their slots on Freeview are now empty, but haven’t heard about cable or satellite.

User5:
From what I’m reading, the Bid channels (Bid TV and Price-drop TV) might still be running on cable/satellite platforms but have been removed from Freeview to free up bandwidth. The confirmation on full closure or continued broadcast on other platforms hasn’t come out yet.

User1:
Makes sense, since shopping channels can afford to stay around on platforms with more capacity. Freeview’s limited mux space is forcing some tough decisions.

User2:
Either way, it’s the end of an era for ITV News Channel and Carlton Cinema. Fingers crossed the new channels arriving soon (Paramount Comedy, CITV) are worth the wait.

User3:
Absolutely. The landscape is definitely shifting. Will be interesting to see how audiences react.

End of conversation

Write a conversation saying the 3 Viacom services launch Jan 23, as the grapevine tells, CITV won't launch till March 11, Less clear is what happens to the playout servers for the closed services