E4 plans to go FTA by year's end

EKRIUQ

Channel 4 is planning to take its digital entertainment channel E4 free-to-air by the end of 2005, the broadcaster confirmed yesterday.

Such a move would open up the channel - currently only available as part of a pay TV package - to millions more viewers to those with only basic packages on Sky and Ntl

C4 confirmed that the FTA plans were part of a "longer term" strategy but sources told the Guardian today that they would likely come to fruition before 2006.

As well as extended coverage of its reality shows such as Big Brother, E4 also airs first runs of Desperate Housewives, The O.C. and Shameless as well as some original series like Fool Around.

Meanwhile, the broadcaster is still on course to launch another digital station, More4, later this spring.

[Jackass]

Surely most people have it anyway watever TV package they're on??
And if you don't have a TV package, you wont be able to get it anyway..just the Irish channels.

celticfc

DubGuy22 wrote:

Surely most people have it anyway watever TV package they're on??
And if you don't have a TV package, you wont be able to get it anyway..just the Irish channels.

Not if you only have FTA (Free-to-air) Satellite. (ie. non-subscription)

Also in the UK, E4 is not part of the main cable-co's basic line-ups & on Freeview (Digital terrestrial) it is currently only part of the Top-up TV Lineup.

All this will change when it goes FTA.

EKRIUQ

its another half decent channel that if you wanted to leave your cable provider or satellite provider and buy a free to view box no more bills for television.

skywalker

except the tv licence.

Lump

I'm sure it's more benefical to people in the Uk that have free view boxes.

John

byte

Thing is though, will it be FTA on Freeview (DTT) only, or on satellite also? Would rights not be a big issue for E4 on satellite, considering the coverage? Is E4 on Astra 2D, the narrow footprint bird, I wonder.