A few weeks ago, some ITV1 channels changed satellites and so their reception in fringe aras of the signal hsa been made worse (http://www.uksatellitehelp.co.uk/2011/12/12/recent-loss-of-itv1-centrals-in-greece-and-the-spanish-canary-islands/)

In the last week, most of the other ITV1 regions, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 channels aslo moved from Astra 2D to Asta 1N. As did channels operated by Channel 4: E4, More4, Film4.

As Astra 1N has a tigher footprint than Astra 2D, this has meant that many people in fringe reception areas like Greece and Cyprus have been unable to receive these channels.
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With so much terminology used for TV these days, it is no wonder some people get confused and end up buying the wrong type of equipment and receiver. Many times I have heard of people buying a Freeview receiver only to try and connect it up to a satellite dish. So here is a synopsis of some of the terms used with regards to UK TV.

Free to air.
Free to air channels are those that are broadcast “in the clear” without any encryption, without the need for a viewing card or a subscription. Examples of some free to air channels on UK satellite TV are BBC 1 and BBC2.

Free to view
Free to view channels are encrypted and require a viewing card to view. They do not require a monthly subscription. Examples of free to view channels on UK satellite TV are (as at Feb 2012) Channel Five HD, Sony TV and Motors TV.

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This weekend, the 3rd to 5th February, ESPN are havng one of their Free Weeekends.

This means that ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN America, ESPN America HD, and ESPN Classics are free to Sky subscribers for this weekend.

It it to showcase what LIVE sports are available on ESPNs channels.

It also mean that you can get to see a live premier league match FOR FREE.
On Saturday evening, thr Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham will be available on ESPN and ESPN HD.

This will not be made available to “freesatfromsky” card users, as it is only for Sky subscribers.

However, if you are in the UK, you can also get this ESPN free weekend on Freeview, for free!

ESPN is available on Sky Channel 417
ESPN HD is available on Sky Channel 442
ESPN Classic is available on Sky Channel 429
ESPN America is available on Sky Channel 430
ESPN America HD is available on Sky Channel 431

Having only been available via the internet and on Freesat boxes, the BBCIplayer and ITVPlayer services will soon be made available on Sky+HD boxes.

These Iplayer services retrieved their data from an ADSL / broadband connection, and not via satellite. This allows the services to be “on demand”, without having to wait for them to download to the hard drive, like the current Sky Anytime services.

This is in addition to the current Sky Anytime+, which already offers a range of Sky subscription channel programmes “on demand”.

Just like the internet versions of these Iplayers, they will not be available to users outside the UKL and ROI, due to internet IP blocking technology.

Although, with many channels having a “+1″ catch up service, or repeating programmes throughout the week – miss X Factor on a Saturday, its repeated almost every day on ITV2 – are “video on demand” services really needed? I suppose it’s good for catching up on programmes that you may have missed, and you feel left out when all your friends are talking about it…but then would you just watch the first episode of the one you missed, and then make a note to set your Sky+ to record it for you?

A recent post (Channel 5, Channel 5 +1, 5 USA, 5 USA +1, 5* , 5* +1, Channel 5 +1 are now available free to air. mentioned that the Channel Five group of channels recently changed their frequencies and became “free to air”.

This was true apart for all but one regional version of “Channel Five”. This lone version of Channel Five used ot be located on a satellite frequency “loaned” to Five by the BBC. This was to help facilitate Channel Fives appearance onto Freesat.

However in the last week, this “Freesat” version has joined the other Channel Five regions on their new frequency on 10965 H 22 5/6.

Most Sky and Freesat box users should not have noticed any difference as the changes should have been done automatically.

However, in some cases it has required the rebooting of a Sky box, to a new “Freesat” channel scan, as some boxes have not automatically updated to be using the new frequency.

This week, the Daly Mail wrote another story about the number of repeated programmes on BBC TV had risen yet again.

It noted that:
BBC One aired 2,736 rerun shows in the year to March 2011, up 1.7% from 2006,
Nearly half of all content shown on BBC Two (49.8%) was repeats over the 12 months, up from just 30% six years ago.
BBC Four’s schedule was made up of 79% repeated programming, but BBC Three hit 84.2% reruns, a total of 3,144 shows.

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For those using the above ITv1 regions in the Spanish Canary Islands and in Greece, you will that you may have lost reception of these channels. When trying to access these channels, usually via the “Other Channels” option in the Sky box’s Services menu, you will find you get either a “technical fault” or “no satellite signal” message.

The loss of these channels is due to the fact that in the last week or so these ITV1 Central regions changed frequencies. They also moved to the Astra 1N satellite. They also went free to air, meaning they are now available without the use of a Sky card.

Whereas, on their previous frequency, reception was good, even on smaller satellite dishes, now they have moved onto their new frequency, many people with these smaller satellite dishes are now finding that they have lost their reception of ITV1.

It is a similar reason why some people in those areas have also lost access to their “Channel Five” and Five USA channels.

It is simply because their satellite dish is too small to receive these channels on their new frequency and new satellite.

This change for the various channels has also affected some caravanners and motorhomers, who have now found that their small satellite dishes are incapable of receiving some of these channels like they used to.

Note that this is nothing to so with Sky. Sky do not own the satellites. Many people misunderstand and just “blame Sky” for loss of channels.

As part of its cost cutting, erm saving measures, the BBC have renegotiated its Formula One rights.
It will now only be showing 10 races live, with other races being shown later in the day with “extensive highlights.”

For the 2012 Formula one season, the BBC live race coverage will start with the third race of the season in China. After that, it will broadcast the races in Spain, Monaco, Valencia, Britain, Belgium, Singapore, Korea, Abu Dhabi and Brazil.

However, Sky Sports have also won the rights to show ALL sessions, practice, qualifying and races live. As part of the coverage, from March 2012, Sky Sports will be launching a dedicated Formula One channel. They will be covering all sessions, live and in HD, with all races uninterrupted by adverts. I suppose that may mean the rest of the coverage will be full of ad breaks!

The Sky Sports F1 channel will be available on Sky channel 408.

The Sky Sports F1 channel will be provided with no extra charge to all Sky TV customers who take both Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 or the HD pack of channels.

Sky have yet to announce their full programme details, but the former BBC commentator Martin Brundle has confirmed that he will be part of Sky’s broadcasting team.

But what if you do not want to pay for the Sky Sports F1 channel. Well, there are some other options available. On other satellites, like Astra 1 at 19 east or Hotbird at 13 east, some other broadcasters will also be offering the full race coverage. OK the language may not be available in English, but then, if you can, you can always watch the foreign TV broadcast, and listen to BBC Radio 5 live coverage.

Join or upgrade to Sky Sports for Live High Definition Formula One coverage of the 2012 Season.

Channel 5, Channel 5 +1, 5 USA, 5 USA +1, 5* , 5* +1, Channel 5 +1 are now available free to air.

On the 8th December 2011, they will offically joing Freesat, and be available via the Freesat channel guide, on the following Freesat channal numbers:

129: 5 USA
130: 5 USA +1
131: 5*
132: 5* +1

If you cannot wait, then you can put your Freesat receiver into “non Freesat Mode” and performa scan of the new Channel Five frequency on the Astra 1N satellite:
Frequency 10964
Polarization H
Symbol Rate 22000
FEC 5/6

Sky box users will not notice any difference, nor will they have to do anything to accommodate these changes.

It does mean that the “freesat from sky” free to view viewing cards now have sligtly less importance with this removal of these 5 channels. They are still require,for the time being for Five HD.

Channel 5 have announced today that all Channel Five regional variations, Channel 5 +1 ( a new channel which will be a timeshift of the main Channel Five), 5 USA and 5* (plus their +1 timeshift channels) will all be joining the Freesat platform in December.

Channel 5+1 will launch on Freesat on EPG channel number 128 on Tuesday 6th December.

5* and 5 USA, as well as their relative +1 timeshift services, will launch on Freesat on Thursday 8th December. The relevent Freesat EPG channel numbers wil be as follows:

129: 5 USA
130: 5 USA +1
131: 5*
132: 5* +1

Presumably these channels will also be made available free to air on Sky digiboxes also, where as now they are “free to view” and require a sky card to watch them.

Freesat box users may have to perform a freesat scan to be able to receive these channels free to air.
Sky box users hsould not have to do anything.
Users of other digital satellite receivers will have to perform a channels scan for these channels when they go live, on their new frequency of:
Frequency: 10965
horizontal
symbol rate 22000
fec 5/6

There has been no mention of Five HD becoming free to air and joining Freesat. Presumably this is becuase of its contract with Sky HD, and willhave to wait until that contract expires.