Early signs of a more sustainable future for Freeview

Last week’s changes to the Digital 3 and 4 multiplex could point the way to a more sustainable future for Freeview.

I have long argued that the day when digital terrestrial TV can realistically be turned off is a long way into the future.

Even if Freely proves a big success – and there are many advantages to internet delivery – turning off Freeview can only be contemplated once there is little risk of disadvantaging consumers.

Freeview remains the fallback for Freely viewers if their internet connection is disrupted.

The changes to the D3 and 4 multiplex – primarily used to carry ITV 1, Channel 4 and 5 from every transmitter in the land – are interesting.

Essentially changing to a different transmission mode has reduced the space taken up by That’s TV 3.

That in turn has allowed Channel 4 to move 4Seven on to that multiplex.

It means C4 is no longer hiring capacity elsewhere and 4Seven is now universally available.

The big unknown is how many viewers with older equipment lost access to That’s TV 3.

I checked on an old Freeview TV in my spare room. That TV doesn’t receive the HD channels but can still receive That’s TV 3.

Once the situation is clearer could ITV and C4 contemplate changing the transmission modes of some of their spin-off channels?

Reducing the space could, for argument’s sake, allow ITV 2 + 1, Film4 + 1 and E4 Extra to shift multiplex.

It could also be used to squeeze in, say, ITV 3 + 1 and ITV 4 + 1 which are only placeholders on Freeview at present.

This could make Freeview more commercially attractive to ITV and C4 without the risks associated with switching the mode of the multiplex itself to the system used for HD.

Nothing can or should be contemplated which might reduce access to ITV 1, C4 and 5. But if a small minority with older sets lose access to spin-off channels temporarily is that a price worth paying for the greater good?

There are unresolved questions – not least the BBC’s ongoing commitment to the HD multiplex. But I cannot imagine a situation where Ofcom and the government would allow Freeview HD to end in the near future.

Could better use be made of the BBC’s main multiplex? At present it squeezes in two extra channels in Scotland – BBC Scotland and BBC Alba – at the cost of some radio stations in the evening.

Could this multiplex be used to carry S4C in Wales? Or could spare capacity be leased outside Scotland?

All worth debating.

By the same token is it time for Ofcom to insist that ITV 1 HD is fully regionalised?

Yes, Freeview cannot be switched off in the foreseeable future for the sake of the vulnerable. But it should be possible to contemplate positive improvements too.

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