NL
The first question that needs to be asked is exactly what constitutes PSB, and why.
It is debatable whether ITV should have PSB commitments today or in the future or whether they are an analogue anachronism that should be abolished. ITV is in a funny situation of being a privately owned media corporation with PSB commitments in return for it's EPG position. Should we even have a referendum on the issue?!
ITV is a publicly owned company.
As to the future, my guess would be that ITV will not want to continue it's PSB service, but and it's a big 'but', who else would take the licences on? If ITV can't make money out of it I think it unlikely anyone else could.
The elephant in the room is the PSB News provision, the Government would find itself in the middle of a huge storm if ITV gave up PSB broadcasting and no-one else stepped up to the plate. PSB news provision is crucial in our multimedia age where the truth and provenance of any story can be questioned and the public know they can turn to the PSB broadcasters and likely get to the truth at all times.. The Government couldn't weather the storm of actually reducing PSB news provision in the UK through the application of broadcasting licences that were financially onerous.
My guess would be the licences will be offered free to the existing ITV holders on the proviso that they are PSB licences. The 'Kudos' of being a PSB does add to ITV's reputation. Just my thoughts of course.
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
I do wonder how PSB broadcasting will develop in an all-IP future. If there is a nationwide multicast system and still a concept of linear channels (rather than unicast narrowcasting) - there may still be an EPG etc. - and still payments to the platform operator (or government if they manage it) in return for nationwide access.
However with no 'gifted spectrum' in return, it does raise the question about whether ITV will continue to have PSB responsibilities. (Answer - I suspect they won't)
Long term I can see a future where the BBC/Public Service broadcasting is funded via a household tax or a separate personal 'public service' tax (as Germany and Sweden respectively).
However with no 'gifted spectrum' in return, it does raise the question about whether ITV will continue to have PSB responsibilities. (Answer - I suspect they won't)
Long term I can see a future where the BBC/Public Service broadcasting is funded via a household tax or a separate personal 'public service' tax (as Germany and Sweden respectively).
The first question that needs to be asked is exactly what constitutes PSB, and why.
It is debatable whether ITV should have PSB commitments today or in the future or whether they are an analogue anachronism that should be abolished. ITV is in a funny situation of being a privately owned media corporation with PSB commitments in return for it's EPG position. Should we even have a referendum on the issue?!
ITV is a publicly owned company.
As to the future, my guess would be that ITV will not want to continue it's PSB service, but and it's a big 'but', who else would take the licences on? If ITV can't make money out of it I think it unlikely anyone else could.
The elephant in the room is the PSB News provision, the Government would find itself in the middle of a huge storm if ITV gave up PSB broadcasting and no-one else stepped up to the plate. PSB news provision is crucial in our multimedia age where the truth and provenance of any story can be questioned and the public know they can turn to the PSB broadcasters and likely get to the truth at all times.. The Government couldn't weather the storm of actually reducing PSB news provision in the UK through the application of broadcasting licences that were financially onerous.
My guess would be the licences will be offered free to the existing ITV holders on the proviso that they are PSB licences. The 'Kudos' of being a PSB does add to ITV's reputation. Just my thoughts of course.
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
RI
There was a time when regional ITV companies took pride in their local news services. If ITV had remained regional then some companies might still take pride today. Since the late 1990s, local news has moved from something of pride to something of a nuisance task that exists to maintain PSB requirements. Local news isn't particularly profitable but it provides a media outlet with a reason for its existence. Border succeeded in its early years through local news because the BBC largely ignored its territory.
Questions need to be asked as to exactly what sort of news needs to be offered as PSB outside of the BBC.
There is a danger that if ITV news too closely mirrors BBC news then the public will view it as duplication of service or no big loss if ITV news is abolished.
Something that I detest is churnalism or copycat journalism where media companies rely on news from agencies and press releases rather than obtained through their own journalists.
As to the future, my guess would be that ITV will not want to continue it's PSB service, but and it's a big 'but', who else would take the licences on? If ITV can't make money out of it I think it unlikely anyone else could.
The elephant in the room is the PSB News provision, the Government would find itself in the middle of a huge storm if ITV gave up PSB broadcasting and no-one else stepped up to the plate. PSB news provision is crucial in our multimedia age where the truth and provenance of any story can be questioned and the public know they can turn to the PSB broadcasters and likely get to the truth at all times.. The Government couldn't weather the storm of actually reducing PSB news provision in the UK through the application of broadcasting licences that were financially onerous.
The elephant in the room is the PSB News provision, the Government would find itself in the middle of a huge storm if ITV gave up PSB broadcasting and no-one else stepped up to the plate. PSB news provision is crucial in our multimedia age where the truth and provenance of any story can be questioned and the public know they can turn to the PSB broadcasters and likely get to the truth at all times.. The Government couldn't weather the storm of actually reducing PSB news provision in the UK through the application of broadcasting licences that were financially onerous.
There was a time when regional ITV companies took pride in their local news services. If ITV had remained regional then some companies might still take pride today. Since the late 1990s, local news has moved from something of pride to something of a nuisance task that exists to maintain PSB requirements. Local news isn't particularly profitable but it provides a media outlet with a reason for its existence. Border succeeded in its early years through local news because the BBC largely ignored its territory.
Questions need to be asked as to exactly what sort of news needs to be offered as PSB outside of the BBC.
There is a danger that if ITV news too closely mirrors BBC news then the public will view it as duplication of service or no big loss if ITV news is abolished.
Something that I detest is churnalism or copycat journalism where media companies rely on news from agencies and press releases rather than obtained through their own journalists.
NG
It is debatable whether ITV should have PSB commitments today or in the future or whether they are an analogue anachronism that should be abolished. ITV is in a funny situation of being a privately owned media corporation with PSB commitments in return for it's EPG position. Should we even have a referendum on the issue?!
ITV are gifted 50% of the PSB2 DVB-T mux (Freeview is still the most watched TV platform in the UK) and a protected EPG slot in return for their PSB responsibilities and their licence payments.
If ITV want to return their gifted spectrum (50% of PSB2) and lose their protected 3/103 EPG slot in return for no longer having PSB requirements, and no longer paying licence fees, I'm sure they will - once it makes financial sense for them to do so?
noggin
Founding member
It is debatable whether ITV should have PSB commitments today or in the future or whether they are an analogue anachronism that should be abolished. ITV is in a funny situation of being a privately owned media corporation with PSB commitments in return for it's EPG position. Should we even have a referendum on the issue?!
ITV are gifted 50% of the PSB2 DVB-T mux (Freeview is still the most watched TV platform in the UK) and a protected EPG slot in return for their PSB responsibilities and their licence payments.
If ITV want to return their gifted spectrum (50% of PSB2) and lose their protected 3/103 EPG slot in return for no longer having PSB requirements, and no longer paying licence fees, I'm sure they will - once it makes financial sense for them to do so?
MA
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
NL
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Catch-22
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Catch-22
NG
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available, their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Would Corrie, Emmerdale, BGT and I'm A Celebrity be enough for people to subscribe to watch them OTT?
noggin
Founding member
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available, their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Would Corrie, Emmerdale, BGT and I'm A Celebrity be enough for people to subscribe to watch them OTT?
MA
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
Yes, I’d forgotten about C4’s PSB status ( odd, because I’m watching C4 News most evenings at present!)
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
Yes, I’d forgotten about C4’s PSB status ( odd, because I’m watching C4 News most evenings at present!)
RI
Looking at this from the opposite perspective how easy would it be for another TV company to attain such a position now that ITV franchise rounds are no more? Have we entered a situation where ITV has a prime position on the EPG and 50% of the PSB2 DVB-T mux for near eternity unless they voluntarily decide to abandon PSB commitments?
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available, their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available, their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Looking at this from the opposite perspective how easy would it be for another TV company to attain such a position now that ITV franchise rounds are no more? Have we entered a situation where ITV has a prime position on the EPG and 50% of the PSB2 DVB-T mux for near eternity unless they voluntarily decide to abandon PSB commitments?
BL
Looking at this from the opposite perspective how easy would it be for another TV company to attain such a position now that ITV franchise rounds are no more? Have we entered a situation where ITV has a prime position on the EPG and 50% of the PSB2 DVB-T mux for near eternity unless they voluntarily decide to abandon PSB commitments?
As things currently stand the decision over the future of the Channel 3 licences lies entirely with the Secretary of State for DCMS, as it was the last time the licences expired a few years ago and as it will be in a few years time when the current licences expire.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available, their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available, their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Looking at this from the opposite perspective how easy would it be for another TV company to attain such a position now that ITV franchise rounds are no more? Have we entered a situation where ITV has a prime position on the EPG and 50% of the PSB2 DVB-T mux for near eternity unless they voluntarily decide to abandon PSB commitments?
As things currently stand the decision over the future of the Channel 3 licences lies entirely with the Secretary of State for DCMS, as it was the last time the licences expired a few years ago and as it will be in a few years time when the current licences expire.
BL
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available , their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Would Corrie, Emmerdale, BGT and I'm A Celebrity be enough for people to subscribe to watch them OTT?
My bold, how does Arquiva fit into the picture with SDN? Does Arquiva provide the infrastructure which SDN simply manages?
Well if ITV drop the PSB provision and no-one takes it up surely the BBC can carry the ball. It has a 24hr channel. BBC 2 on weekdays is a News Channel simulcast and of course there's regional news.
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available , their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Would Corrie, Emmerdale, BGT and I'm A Celebrity be enough for people to subscribe to watch them OTT?
My bold, how does Arquiva fit into the picture with SDN? Does Arquiva provide the infrastructure which SDN simply manages?
MA
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available , their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Would Corrie, Emmerdale, BGT and I'm A Celebrity be enough for people to subscribe to watch them OTT?
My bold, how does Arquiva fit into the picture with SDN? Does Arquiva provide the infrastructure which SDN simply manages?
Yes. Arqiva supply the transmitter infrastructure for all eight national muxes, in addition they also run COM 5, 6, 7 and 8. (SDN is COM 4)
And suddenly we're back to pre 1955, and a PSB monopoly. That won't be good, in what some call
the golden age of 70s and 80s broadcasting BBC and ITV/ITN kept each other on their toes.
The duopoly worked.
Not quite. Channel 4 is a core PSB too now. Sure it's not a BBC One competitor.
However the fact that ITV is the UK's second most watched TV channel and the fact it's got Freeview Lite access and a prime position in the EPG are probably not unrelated.
If ditching their PSB requirements meant they had to leave PSB 2 and went onto commercial Arqiva Freeview spectrum which isn't universally available , their potential audience would drop, which wouldn't necessarily be great news for advertisers.
Would Corrie, Emmerdale, BGT and I'm A Celebrity be enough for people to subscribe to watch them OTT?
My bold, how does Arquiva fit into the picture with SDN? Does Arquiva provide the infrastructure which SDN simply manages?
Yes. Arqiva supply the transmitter infrastructure for all eight national muxes, in addition they also run COM 5, 6, 7 and 8. (SDN is COM 4)