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Ten more HD channels on two new Freeview HD multiplexes on air from 2014-18

Ofcom has recently suggested that BBC, Channel 4 and Arqiva plan for an interim Freeview HD service, before a new HD switchover in 2018 - to free up more space for 4G mobile broadband - could be put into service.

Ofcom has recently suggested that BBC, Channel 4 and Arqiva pla
published on UK Free TV

Just in case you missed it, in the recently published Securing long term benefits from scarce low frequency spectrum: UHF strategy statemen Ofcom document, footnote 64 is a link to BBC Channel 4 Arqiva - Interim use of 600 MHz for DTT which details "to make efficient use of the empty spectrum Ofcom will need to allocate two Multi-Frequency Networks (MFN) DTT licences to Arqiva".

The proposal suggest that, to allow for the move in 2018 to clear the 700MHz band of television frequencies - for allocation to mobile broadband - that two new DVB-T2 multiplexes are created in the 600MHz band. (see also Ofcom channel bingo II - introducing the bands and More Freeview capacity - COM7, COM8 and COM9 - in the 600MHz band).



The top 20 transmitter sites in the UK are, in terms of coverage:

Crystal Palace (17%), Winter Hill (10.2%), Sutton Coldfield (7.1%), Emley Moor (5.9%), Black Hill (3.6%), Sandy Heath (3.5%), Waltham (2.9%), Mendip, Belmont, Pontop Pike (all 2.7%), Rowridge (2.4%), Bilsdale (2.2%), Hannington (1.8%), Sudbury, Divis (both 1.7%), Craigkelly, Oxford (both 1.6%), Wenvoe (1.4%), Tacolneston (1.3%) and The Wrekin (just 1.1%).

The proposal states that:

"the BBC Executive plans to simulcast a third BBC television service and potentially the BBC Red Button video service in HD, Channel 4 plans to simulcast at least one, and potentially two, television services on the interim multiplex ... rollout of the 20 sites could complete in 2014"

This would, following the Arqiva strategy set out in Creation of Broadcast Layers 7, 8 and 9 in 600MHz released Spectrum - Arqiva 21 Sept 2011 potentially use the following allocations:

First multiplex


Sudbury - C31 100kW
Tacolneston - C31 100kW
Crystal Palace - C33 200kW
Sutton Coldfield - C33 200kW
The Wrekin - C33 20kW
Winter Hill - C31 100kW
Emley Moor - C32 200kW
Wenvoe - C31 100kW
Waltham - C31 50kW
Mendip - C33 100kW
Rowridge - C31 200kW
Belmont - C33 200kW
Bilsdale - C31 100kW
Black Hill - C32 100kW
Craigkelly - C33 20kW
Divis - C33 100kW
Hannington - C32 50kW
Oxford - C31 100kW
Pontop Pike - C33 100kW
Rowridge - C31 200kW
Sandy Heath - C32 200kW

Second multiplex


Sudbury - C37 100kW
Tacolneston - C37 100kW
Crystal Palace - C35 200kW
Sutton Coldfield - C35 200kW
The Wrekin - C35 20kW
Winter Hill - C37 100kW
Emley Moor - C34 200kW
Wenvoe - C37 100kW
Waltham - C37 50kW
Mendip - C35 100kW
Rowridge - C37 200kW
Belmont - C35 200kW
Bilsdale - C37 100kW
Black Hill - C35 100kW
Craigkelly - C34 20kW
Divis - C34 100kW
Hannington - C34 50kW
Oxford - C37 100kW
Pontop Pike - C34 100kW
Rowridge - C37 200kW
Sandy Heath - C34 200kW

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Comments
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Dave
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

8:40 PM
Brighton

Yes both don't have 5HD :(



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Dave's 126 posts GB flag
Dave's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Friday, 12 April 2013
D
David Robbins
3:12 AM
Chester Le Street

Are these going to be the new HD channels? If yes, there is only room for 2 channel 4 channels.

Bbc parliament
Bbc news
Itv 2
Itv 3
Itv 4
Ch 5
Bbc 3/cbbc
Bbc 4/cbeebies

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David Robbins's 20 posts GB flag
David's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
J
John Robinson
sentiment_satisfiedBronze

5:43 PM

David Robbins: The announcement suggests the BBC only want one or two more HD channels, and Channel 4 also only want one or two.

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John Robinson's 43 posts GB flag
Friday, 26 April 2013
Will Wren
10:45 PM

As well as Freeview & Freesat there ia also a lot of channels available online by TV Catchup but the only regional service they provide is BBC1/2/itv from London & stv from Glasgow. (54.6156,-3.5583) 

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Will Wren's 1 post GB flag
Thursday, 10 April 2014
J
John H Williams
10:10 AM
Dolgellau

Hi Les Nicol
Thanks for the response, I am fortunate that I have SKY, FREESAT, FREEVIEW, and also I use to have a satellite dish pointed at Europe, so I have a good choice of channels. A lot of people in my area can only afford FREEVIEW and they are only limited to a certain amount of channels, not the full allocation. I was informed that the Relay Transmitters down the valley have not been upgraded, so that is my question why these transmitted have not been upgraded. ????

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John H Williams's 13 posts GB flag
John's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Michael
sentiment_satisfiedGold

10:46 AM

John H Williams: Well the commercial broadcasters can't afford to put the extra 3 multiplexes on the 1000 relay transmitters in the country, so the situation isn't going to change.

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Michael's 358 posts GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

6:19 PM

John H Williams: You keep asking the same question for which answers have been given and which you ignore:

Dolgellau (Gwynedd, Wales) Freeview Light transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice

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Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
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