Channel 5

Doesn't it have a split schedule, with programmes broadcast during the day on Sky/Virgin but there's (even) more teleshopping instead on Freeview?

Correct. The satellite and cable version is constrained by Sky's rules on teleshopping, whereas Freeview is not, therefore until 7pm there's a different schedule.

Is the rebrand still taking place this side of xmas? its become pretty close of not being used for that much before the xmas pres will come into use?

With Sian Williams moving to 5 News in the new year it may tie into a relaunch of the news branding to tie into relaunched channel branding.

I just have a suspicion that it'll go live in January, like FanofTV said above.

Really looking forward to the changes, but Ben Frow's comments on his Meet the Controllers interview played down any major revamp.

They've rebranded the news just before overhauling the channel identity, and just altered the titles. This was when they went from five to FIVE.

However, it does make sense to do them at the same time. Viacom have waited this long to rebrand the channel, so it's probably best to do it at the same time as they have a new face for the news.

If that's not going to be until January, then perhaps we won't see anything special in terms of Christmas presentation?

Its more likely were get the two idents from last year especial if DFS comes a knocking again.

I said on another forum that it looks like it will be early 2016 now, considering they have a few new series all starting in January, so launching the new look, new programming and Channel 5 HD going FTA on satellite (which is looking quite likely) would give them plenty of fanfare.

It is also nice to hear that they will be giving 5 USA and 5* new looks too, long overdue. But the way he said "It's a new 5" makes me think the presentation/look won't change much, they'll just have a tweaked logo, which doesn't sound all that great really...

Have C5 now permanently lost their Freeview HD slot? AIUI they were given 2 chances to take up the option.

Lost the EPG slot but still space for them to broadcast on the second of the restricted HD muxes if they'll pay the going rate. 105 of course could open up should BBC3 HD close as seems inevitable, though thanks to the way the Freeview EPG works it is unlikely they would automatically get it should they launch in HD around the same time - more likely every other HD channel (or the PSB ones at least) will move up a slot or C4 might be able to claim it by being the nearest PSB to it.

I think they've lost their slot on the PSB3 mux, which like PSB1 and PSB2 has the highest levels of coverage and is part of the so-called "Freeview Lite" setup.

As others have said there is space on the commercial DVB-T2 muxes - which they could get if they paid for it. Though the obvious EPG slot is currently occupied by BBC Three HD, which is likely to be around for a little longer as the Trust recommended extending the life of the linear channel before the move to online only?

I guess there could be some scope for C5 to push for BBC Three's capacity on PSB3 when BBC Three HD goes online only - but CBBC HD will still be there, and the BBC could argue that it should move BBC Four HD/CBeebies or BBC News HD onto PSB3 24/7 to allow it to move CBBC HD to a COM mux and only pay for part-time carriage?

Nice to see Channel 5 making more of an effort than ITV this morning for the 2 minutes silence.