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Astra 2 Some Frequency Changes coming up
Prepare yourself if you have a free to air satellite set top box receiving the UK channels from Astra 2 as there are some frequency changes due in September and October. Firstly, the BBC is making some changes to BBC News, BBC Parliament and BBC Alba. They will be moving from their present europe-wide transponder (11954/H/27500) to different transponders on the narrow beam Astra 2D. This could affect certain viewers who have problems receiving the narrow beam Astra 2 transmissions where domestic BBC, ITV, Channel4 and Channel 5 are to be found.
The changes are due to BBC cost cutting and the corporation will also be cutting the number of Red Button streams, thus releasing a whole wide band transponder.
In late September, or early October, a new satellite will be joining the existing fleet at the Astra 2 satellite. This new satellite, called Astra 1N, will have narrow band capabilities like Astra 2D and should open up the real possibilities of more tv channels going free to air. At the start of the year, Channel 5 announced that they wanted 5* and 5USA to go free to air but they had to wait until narrow beam capacity was available. Well, it will be in October so the trade is expecting those 2 channels to leave Sky encryption and become available on Freesat and free to air set top boxes.
About half a dozen ITV1 regional variations are still encrypted and only available on Sky boxes with viewing cards ... the new satellite capacity should enable those remaining ITV1 regions to go free to air as well.
Meanwhile, there is also speculation that FilmFour will launch in HD on Freesat and free to air boxes.
Prepare yourself if you have a free to air satellite set top box receiving the UK channels from Astra 2 as there are some frequency changes due in September and October. Firstly, the BBC is making some changes to BBC News, BBC Parliament and BBC Alba. They will be moving from their present europe-wide transponder (11954/H/27500) to different transponders on the narrow beam Astra 2D. This could affect certain viewers who have problems receiving the narrow beam Astra 2 transmissions where domestic BBC, ITV, Channel4 and Channel 5 are to be found.
The changes are due to BBC cost cutting and the corporation will also be cutting the number of Red Button streams, thus releasing a whole wide band transponder.
In late September, or early October, a new satellite will be joining the existing fleet at the Astra 2 satellite. This new satellite, called Astra 1N, will have narrow band capabilities like Astra 2D and should open up the real possibilities of more tv channels going free to air. At the start of the year, Channel 5 announced that they wanted 5* and 5USA to go free to air but they had to wait until narrow beam capacity was available. Well, it will be in October so the trade is expecting those 2 channels to leave Sky encryption and become available on Freesat and free to air set top boxes.
About half a dozen ITV1 regional variations are still encrypted and only available on Sky boxes with viewing cards ... the new satellite capacity should enable those remaining ITV1 regions to go free to air as well.
Meanwhile, there is also speculation that FilmFour will launch in HD on Freesat and free to air boxes.