Freeviw

I don’t mind getting anything for free but I do have one or two issues with Freeview at the moment.

I can’t understand why a service that is so limited in terms of the channels it can offer needs so many +1 channels (+1 channels are the ones which show a TV channel 1 hour later than the original broadcast). There are now six +1 channels which equates to approximately 12% of the TV channels available on Freeview. They are ITV1+1, ITV2+1, Ch4+1, E4+1, Sky3+1 and Dave+1 (Dave ja vu).

I have nothing against +1 channels. They are fine for the Sky and Virgin platforms as they aren’t limited in the amount of channels they have the capacity to broadcast. On Freeview they just waste room that could be used for different channels. ITV1+1 launched yesterday so yet another channel space which could have been used for something new is now being wasted. Many people on low incomes can’t afford a Sky or Virgin package and rely on Freeview. This is especially true now that the old analogue service is being switched off as Freeview will become the only way low income households can watch TV.

Freeview is essentially owned jointly by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. I think the government and/or Ofcom should inform Freeview’s owners that they are changing the terms of the platform’s licence so that +1 channels are limited to no more than 5% – 6% of the total output. There should be certain terms and conditions associated with the licence change so the +1 channels are not just replaced with shopping channels (don’t even get me started on those). Freeview’s aim should be to provide a good diverse mix of entertainment, music, documentary and news. Freeview should not be allowed to waste capacity by broadcasting lots of +1 channels, shopping channels and gambling channels.