freesat site holding back on itv hd listing ?

imigix · 04-01-2009, 6:16 PM

on the freesat hd prog. list for today itv is only showing football

in my total tv guide mag. above suspicion at 21.00 is in hd

i am waiting to see which will be correct

itv hd at the moment is almost a very bad joke i know they are strapped for cash.

i only hope that now they have been given the green light to cut regional progs.this wiil take effect over this year,that hd output will increase as funds
may then allow.

Bodger15 · 04-01-2009, 6:56 PM

At the moment the BBC are doing OK for HD and this will only get better as we go through 2009. It would not be commercially viable for the other TV stations to allow this to continue without a challenge...

davemurgatroyd2 · 05-01-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodger15

At the moment the BBC are doing OK for HD and this will only get better as we go through 2009. It would not be commercially viable for the other TV stations to allow this to continue without a challenge...

Pray tell where the money is going to come from to fund these other HD channels and also make them commercially viable. The advertising pot is shrinking drastically in this recession - one of the major advertising brokers arranging adverts on TV has gone bust, ITV and channel 4 are struggling financially (channel 4 HD is being subsidised by Sky), three advertising dependant FTA channels went bust last month. The only expansion in HD channels at present is in pay TV and is likely to stay that way for some time until the recession starts lifting.

mxs · 05-01-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodger15

At the moment the BBC are doing OK for HD and this will only get better as we go through 2009. It would not be commercially viable for the other TV stations to allow this to continue without a challenge...

As more Freesat TV's and STB's are sold, ITV will be forced to up their HD content to get veiwers and advertisers attention. I think the Beeb will commision more HD programmes to satisfy license payers

imigix · 05-01-2009, 5:44 PM

well the freesat itv hd listing last night was wrong letts hope it was just a blip

as regards the long term future of itv and other commercial channels the signs are not good

there are just two many going for the same advertiseing and therefore income is going down

add to that the credit crunch and lack of confidence the next year will be hard

pay to view may help but will joe public have the spare cash and its not the complete answer look at sky one for example not what you would call quality progs.

i do think the bbc will be the one overall to keep up the standard and the lack of advertisements is fantastic.

you start to watch and you know after five mins. you will still be watching the plot not some one trying to sell you beans.

Bodger15 · 05-01-2009, 8:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davemurgatroyd2

Pray tell where the money is going to come from to fund these other HD channels and also make them commercially viable. The advertising pot is shrinking drastically in this recession - one of the major advertising brokers arranging adverts on TV has gone bust, ITV and channel 4 are struggling financially (channel 4 HD is being subsidised by Sky), three advertising dependant FTA channels went bust last month. The only expansion in HD channels at present is in pay TV and is likely to stay that way for some time until the recession starts lifting.

DOOM and GLOOM............

The recession can't last forever.................

Starburst · 05-01-2009, 8:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodger15

DOOM and GLOOM............

The recession can't last forever.................

Lets hope not but still doesn't solve the problem that for the advert driven channels offering a HD alternative is more likely to move viewers from the existing SD output than generate new viewers which is where the money will come from in higher ad rates.
The US have had the same problem but the "war" between the 4 major networks meant any edge could be a marketing boon and so HD was adopted quite quickly and when one went HD the rest had to follow.

It's this factor that is our main hope for more mainstream "free" HD, the likes of ITV, CH4 and Five have to see HD as a marketing tool and a way to maintain market share not to increase it but I fear there is an apathy and inertia in UK telly with the big four broadcasters quite happy with the ways things are in relation with each other and with PAY telly.
We need one to break away and embrace HD, the BBC would be the best most capable but it's going to take ITV, CH4 or Five to really get things going and once again it may be Freeview HD that's the catalyst.