New channels coming to Freesat soon..?
We mentioned in a recent post ( https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2015/11/possible-satellite-changes-for-the-uktv-group-of-channels/ ) that some of the UKTV group of channels had been duplicated on a UK beam frequency.
Speculation arose as to what this has meant.
And, although there has been no official confirmation, it does appear as if Freesat will soon be getting some more channels.
10 UKTVGroup of channels, Alibi, Drama, Dave, Eden, GOLD, Good Food, Home, Really, Watch, and Yesterday have appeared on frequency 12129 V SR 27500 FEC 2/3. They are currently on frequency of 11817 V SR 27500 FEC 2/3 to 12129 V SR 27500 FEC 2/3.
Should these channels change to 12129, which looks highly likely, then this means they will be moving from the easy to receive European beam, to the harder to receive UK beam. This will mean that people in the southern of Spain, like the Costa Del Sol and Almeria areas, and Portugal, who are paying a Sky subscription, may find that they can no longer receive these UKTV channels.
As a rule of thumb, if you can receive BBC TV channels, then you are able to receive the UK beam, and so your viewing of these channels should not be affected.
The rumours are that some of all of this group of channels will soon be made available subscription free. Meaning that the no longer require a Sky viewing card and subscription to watch.
The rumours have been confirmed by the fact that the Freesat datastream has been recently updated, and shows that Drama has been assigned Freesat channel 162, Yesterday channel 163 and Really channel 164.
So perhaps in the next few days we channel also see the “+1” channels moving to a UK beam.
As to what happens wit their HD channels is still unclear.
The move, which has yet to be announced or confirmed by Freesat or UKTV, has been long-awaited and would enable viewers who have not been able to access UKTV’s free-to-air channels via Freeview to watch them for the first time via satellite.
The impending move also reflects a change in emphasis for Sky, which is focusing resources on securing HD and on-demand content rather than locking away standard definition channels from free-to-air viewers.
Update:
It may be that only a handful of these 10 chanenls may go free.
Currently on Freeview are Really, Yesterday, Drama and Dave. These are pay channel on satellite.
It may be that UKTV decide to simply equalise things, and make Really, Yesterday, Drama and Dave free on satellite as well as on Freeview.
This would mean that the other UK TV Group of channels like Watch, Alibi, Eden, Gold, Good Food and Home remain on PAY TV.
Or all channels are made free on both Freeview and Satellite.
It is unlikely the HD versions will also become free.. but you never know..
It’ll still all be rubbish, just more of it!