Ofcom consults about Freeview HD two-multiplex upgrade plan in the 600MHz band
As we covered back on 25th November 2012 Ten more HD channels on two new Freeview HD multiplexes on air from 2014-18 - Freeview news - there is plan to provide until the end of 2018 two more Freeview HD multiplexes.
The following sites will be upgraded to have two new DVB-T2/MPEG4 high definition services.
The sites that will get the services will be:
10 site plan (44.1% coverage): Crystal Palace, Winter Hill, Sutton Coldfield, Craigkelly, Black Hill, Divis, Pontop Pike, Rowridge, Wenvoe and Bilsdale.
20 site plan (61.8% coverage): above plus Waltham, Hannington, Belmont, Oxford, Tacolneston, Ridge Hill, Emley Moor, Mendip, Sandy Heath and Durris.
30 site plan (65.7% coverage): above plus Angus, Bluebell Hill, Sheffield, Moel-y-Parc, Caldbeck, Caradon Hill, Beacon Hill, Darvel, Fenton and Fenham.
The allocations of frequcneis are:
- Crystal Palace C33, C35 In group
- Winter Hill C31, C37 Out of group
- Sutton Coldfield C33, C35 One just outside, One in group
- Craigkelly C33, C34 In group
- Black Hill C32, C35 One just outside, One in group
- Divis C33, C34 In group
- Pontop Pike C33, C34 Out of group
- Rowridge HP C31, C37 In group
- Wenvoe C31, C37 One just outside, One in group
- Bilsdale C31, C37 In group
- Waltham C31, C37 Outside with others
- Hannington C32, C34 Just outside
- Belmont C33, C35 In group
- Oxford C31, C37 Out of group
- Tacolneston C31, C37 Out of group
- Ridge Hill C32, C34 In group
- Emley Moor C32, C34 Just outside
- Mendip C33, C35 Out of group
- Sandy Heath C32, C34 In group
- Durris C32, C35 In group
- Angus C31, C37 Out of group
- Bluebell Hill C32, C34 Just outside
- Sheffield C31, C37 In group
- Moel-y-Parc C32, C34 Just outside
- Caldbeck C32, C35 In group
- Caradon Hill C31, C37 In group
- Beacon Hill C33, C34 Outside with others
- Darvel C31, C37 In group
- Fenton C32, C34 In group
- Fenham C31, C37 In group
See also Ofcom - Award of the 600 MHz spectrum band - Including request to stakeholders to notify intention to apply
Whenever i watch moving sport especially football I experience much poorer pictu | 1 |
This is interesting so does it mean more HD channels for free view and which would they be?
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mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
11:34 PM
Aldershot
Yery good question Mark. The BBC has still not been able to find anyone to go on their spare HD channel let alone find 10 more with only up to 65% coverage. Satellite is cheaper and has better coverage.
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trevorjharris's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
11:20 AM
trevorjharris: The slot on PSB3 is possibly a relatively costly outlet for any broadcaster. No doubt the 10 site plan will be considered most attractive cost-wise, with the 20 site plan most desirable as it tips the coverage over the 50% mark. Whether another ten transmitters for 4% more viewers will be considered unattractive remains to be seen - or could the winning licence holder cherry pick and choose say Fenham, Fenton and Sheffield as worthwhile additions to the 20 site plan? Satellite, whilst having a signal which covers most areas is limited to serving those viewers with suitable receivers. As the majority of satellite viewers are subscribers to Sky it is not surprising that HD commercial channels choose to be subscription channels, in common with the practice in Germany where satellite viewing is more extensive.
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11:31 AM
At present even free satellite services only offer 1 extra HD Channel (NHK World), all other HD channels are premium channels through Sky. I cannot believe that any would go terrestrial, just because the facility is available. 10 additional free channels is wishful thinking.
Even is they were allowed to charge, none of the terrestrial subscription services (e.g. TopUp TV) have been a runaway success, and those a moving towards additional broadband services: So, although I hope to be proved wrong, DTH Terrestrial HDTV is unlikely to attract any broadcaster.
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11:42 AM
Bristol
As a viewer, I would appreciate 10 extra HD services. Nothing will convince me to subscribe to Sky and I'm set up for DTTV, so I'm not keen on getting Freesat either. I'd like to see the 30 site plan because it gives the largest number of people the option and, if the aim is to get people to buy DVB-T2 receivers, you're more likely to succeed if greater numbers of people can receive the service. I think that it has to be decided whether this is a means to an end or an end in itself.
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Charles's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
3:44 PM
Briantist,in your first piece,you had ' The Wrekin ' within the top 20 of transmitters per populations,this is absent from this latest list.
Can you confirm this?please can you give more reasons?why The Wrekin should not be included.
1% of all UK viewers use this transmitter.
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Aerialman: They have move a few allocations around to ensure that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland get some coverage, which has bumped The Wrekin off in England.
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sharealam: As per the older article, Channel 4 are very keen to have some of the slots.
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What about all the other main Transmitters? i.e Waltham???
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Ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage