Crown Castle has squeezed out room for yet another new channel on Freeview, according to this week's Broadcast.

The transmission company is poised to announce the winner of the bidding for its first free slot, created on multiplex D using new compression technologies.

The same techniques are also being applied to CC's other Freeview multiplex, multiplex C, to make way for another 18-hour channel.

Either ITV or Channel 4 is expected to be successful in securing the first station but the loser - along with all the other unsuccessful bidders, including Five, Turner, Top-Up TV, Disney, NBC Universal and Sit-Up - will be invited to resubmit their proposals for the new vacancy.

EMAP, the company behind music channels The Box, Smash Hits and Kerrang, is also said to be "interested" by the free slot.