Tech
Transmission company Crown Castle is shortly expected to announce ITV and Channel 4 as the winners of its two vacant channel slots on Freeview.
ITV are intending to use the first channel, which becomes available on April 1, to broadcast a revamped version of Men & Motors, eventually morphing it into ITV4.
Channel 4, meanwhile, are exploring a number of options for their slot, which becomes available on June 1. The broadcaster also has a second free space on the platform to utilise as part of their multichannel plans.
Option 1: More4
One of the two slots will definitely be used for More 4, a new factual station launching in October. The channel, which has a budget of £30 million, will target the over-35s with a programme lineup including original documentaries, drama "events" and a daily news bulletin.
Option 2: E4
The broadcaster recently outlined its intent to take flagship entertainment station E4 free-to-air as part of a "long term strategy." Indications have suggested that the move could occur before the end of 2005, however doing so would incur a penalty from Sky, who have an agreement to carry E4 as a pay channel until 2008.
Option 3: Gaming channel
C4 has been in discussions with German broadcaster 9 Live about launching a joint venture gaming channel following a successful two-month trial on E4 last year. The idea is particularly favoured as an alternative route of bringing in revenues.
Option 4: Movie channel
According to Broadcast, a newer idea is to launch a joint venture movie channel with the BBC. A BBC spokesman told DS that the corporation had "no comment" to make on the "speculation."
ITV are intending to use the first channel, which becomes available on April 1, to broadcast a revamped version of Men & Motors, eventually morphing it into ITV4.
Channel 4, meanwhile, are exploring a number of options for their slot, which becomes available on June 1. The broadcaster also has a second free space on the platform to utilise as part of their multichannel plans.
Option 1: More4
One of the two slots will definitely be used for More 4, a new factual station launching in October. The channel, which has a budget of £30 million, will target the over-35s with a programme lineup including original documentaries, drama "events" and a daily news bulletin.
Option 2: E4
The broadcaster recently outlined its intent to take flagship entertainment station E4 free-to-air as part of a "long term strategy." Indications have suggested that the move could occur before the end of 2005, however doing so would incur a penalty from Sky, who have an agreement to carry E4 as a pay channel until 2008.
Option 3: Gaming channel
C4 has been in discussions with German broadcaster 9 Live about launching a joint venture gaming channel following a successful two-month trial on E4 last year. The idea is particularly favoured as an alternative route of bringing in revenues.
Option 4: Movie channel
According to Broadcast, a newer idea is to launch a joint venture movie channel with the BBC. A BBC spokesman told DS that the corporation had "no comment" to make on the "speculation."
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