The BBC has confirmed plans to launch a high definition version of BBC One in the autumn.
BBC One HD will offer a HD simulcast of the channel, including HD versions of EastEnders, Holby City and The One Show.
The channel's autumn schedule in HD will also include Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.
BBC One HD will be made available on Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.
The channel will operate in addition to the BBC HD channel, which will also extend its regular broadcast hours over the "coming months" from nine to 12 hours a day.
Obviously its a bit too early to know what frequency it will be on or what sort of availability it will be like (ie BBC 1 or BBC2), suffice to say that it will be available free to air on Freesat HD, Sky HD and other HD receivers.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
TDT via satellite - interesting survey results
A recent survey saw that an overwhelming 98% responded that they wanted a Satellite DTT as in other countries.
Many of the current problems of TDT reception are due to grey areas, where TDT signals are either very weak or nonexistant. In Spain 1.5% of the population live in these TDT grey areas, which rises to over 35% if you count areas bloccked by buildings. A total of more than 2 million households would receive NO TV in a position today and another 3.5 million million have pixilation, Fadding or white noise along the coast.
This could be solved by TDT by satellite
According to the latest survey on satellite DTT, 97.7% of Internet users who responded to the consultation want access to TDT channels via satellite for free, as in most European countries, such as France, Italy and the UK (Freesat).
Unlike in Spain, the governments of these countries have opted for open models in the distribution of DTT by the alternative pathway of the satellite, making it easier for all who want access to this modality.
The result is that any French citizen, English or Italian has only to approach a distributor (dealer or supermarket) to buy the receiver and the corresponding card (if required - not in the UK, but in France - TNTSAT) for a price of around 100 euros.
Another difference is that in these cases the package is available by satellite is the same as the land based transmitters and includes the HD channels and pay channels.
In Spain access to satellite DTT is much more restricted because we have to go to an installer approved by Abertis and meet certain requirements and procedures, which lengthen the process and make it expensive: The installer goes to the user's home (which should be in shaded area) to check that there is no possibility of receiving the TDT signal and draws up a report submitted by Abertis. Abertis gives its approval and delivery to the user keys that can unlock the receiver and the card (also approved by Abertis). Once these unlocked, the installer returns the address of the user to proceed to the final installation. The average cost of a satellite installation of DTT in Spain is around 400 euros.
In addition, each receptor is only for a TV and its reception capacity is limited to two transponders on Hispasat.
The survey, which was attended by 8545 Internet users, giving results very clear about how you should distribute satellite DTT in Spain:
- 8348 people, 97.69% of participants want a cheap satellite DTT and free access, as in other countries.
- 1.33% DTT Satellite wants a free access, no matter the price.
- 0.44% The states that do not need satellite DTT in Spain.
- 0.41% is satisfied as currently distributed by Abertis.
And the 0.12% estimated that DTT is not necessary as some satellite channels are available in packages of payment.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Many of the current problems of TDT reception are due to grey areas, where TDT signals are either very weak or nonexistant. In Spain 1.5% of the population live in these TDT grey areas, which rises to over 35% if you count areas bloccked by buildings. A total of more than 2 million households would receive NO TV in a position today and another 3.5 million million have pixilation, Fadding or white noise along the coast.
This could be solved by TDT by satellite
According to the latest survey on satellite DTT, 97.7% of Internet users who responded to the consultation want access to TDT channels via satellite for free, as in most European countries, such as France, Italy and the UK (Freesat).
Unlike in Spain, the governments of these countries have opted for open models in the distribution of DTT by the alternative pathway of the satellite, making it easier for all who want access to this modality.
The result is that any French citizen, English or Italian has only to approach a distributor (dealer or supermarket) to buy the receiver and the corresponding card (if required - not in the UK, but in France - TNTSAT) for a price of around 100 euros.
Another difference is that in these cases the package is available by satellite is the same as the land based transmitters and includes the HD channels and pay channels.
In Spain access to satellite DTT is much more restricted because we have to go to an installer approved by Abertis and meet certain requirements and procedures, which lengthen the process and make it expensive: The installer goes to the user's home (which should be in shaded area) to check that there is no possibility of receiving the TDT signal and draws up a report submitted by Abertis. Abertis gives its approval and delivery to the user keys that can unlock the receiver and the card (also approved by Abertis). Once these unlocked, the installer returns the address of the user to proceed to the final installation. The average cost of a satellite installation of DTT in Spain is around 400 euros.
In addition, each receptor is only for a TV and its reception capacity is limited to two transponders on Hispasat.
The survey, which was attended by 8545 Internet users, giving results very clear about how you should distribute satellite DTT in Spain:
- 8348 people, 97.69% of participants want a cheap satellite DTT and free access, as in other countries.
- 1.33% DTT Satellite wants a free access, no matter the price.
- 0.44% The states that do not need satellite DTT in Spain.
- 0.41% is satisfied as currently distributed by Abertis.
And the 0.12% estimated that DTT is not necessary as some satellite channels are available in packages of payment.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
ITV investigates Nike ad gaffe
ITV investigates Nike ad gaffe
The debut of World Cup TV advert during Champions League final cut short in south of England and Wales
ITV is investigating a transmission fault that caused some viewers to miss the final 6 seconds of the first airing of Nike's star-studded three-minute World Cup TV ad.
The ad, which forms the centre-piece of the US sportswear giant's big budget World Cup marketing campaign across 32 countries, debuted during the Champions League final on ITV1 on Saturday night.
It is understood that ITV and Nike have reached a deal for an undisclosed amount of media space as compensation for the gaffe
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
The debut of World Cup TV advert during Champions League final cut short in south of England and Wales
ITV is investigating a transmission fault that caused some viewers to miss the final 6 seconds of the first airing of Nike's star-studded three-minute World Cup TV ad.
The ad, which forms the centre-piece of the US sportswear giant's big budget World Cup marketing campaign across 32 countries, debuted during the Champions League final on ITV1 on Saturday night.
It is understood that ITV and Nike have reached a deal for an undisclosed amount of media space as compensation for the gaffe
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sky Boxes Switching Off Randomly
Sky Boxes Switching Off Randomly
Since the beginning of March 2010, some Sky boxes have been experiencing an issue where they are switching off at random times, even if you have turned off the Autostandby feature on the Sky box.
The Autostandby feature automatically puts the Sky box into Standby mode if the box has been switched on and no remote control buttons have been touched for 4 hours – supposedly helping you save some power by not having the box turned on all the time.
However, on the Pace 430N Sky receivers, a software update from Sky has been causing the boxes to shut down at random times. You can confirm your make of Sky box by looking at the sticker that should be on the bottom of your box. By pressing Services, 4, 5 and accessing the System Details, software version 3.8.8 is the one that is causing the issues. All other Sky boxes and software versions are at the moment OK.
You can correct this problem yourself, by performing a manual software update which rolls back the software to the previous working version.
This process should be done in the morning, and only if you are getting the background music playing when you enter the Sky menu system, as the frequency for the software download may not be available on small dishes or in the afternoon, and performing it when the frequency is not there could damage your Sky box.
1 Unplug your sky box from the power
2 Press and hold the BACKUP button on the Sky box – not the remote control.
3 Still pressing the Back up button, reapply the power.
4 Keep pressing the back up button on the Sky box until RED YELOW and GREEN light glow on the front panel of the box. A “Downloading” message may also appear on the screen
5 Once these lights have appeared you can release the Back up button, as the box has now started the software download.
6 The Sky box will reboot once the download has been completed. You can confirm if the correct software has been downloaded by going once again into the System Details (Service, 4, 5) and checking that the Software version is now 3.7.6
I should better reiterate that this process should only be down if you can get the download frequency (11778) indicated by the background music on the sky menu screen, that you may also have to re add those “extra” ITV1, C4 and Five channels you have added into your Other Channels lists, and that you perform this upgrade at your own risk and I cannot be held liable if it fails and / or damages your Sky box
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Since the beginning of March 2010, some Sky boxes have been experiencing an issue where they are switching off at random times, even if you have turned off the Autostandby feature on the Sky box.
The Autostandby feature automatically puts the Sky box into Standby mode if the box has been switched on and no remote control buttons have been touched for 4 hours – supposedly helping you save some power by not having the box turned on all the time.
However, on the Pace 430N Sky receivers, a software update from Sky has been causing the boxes to shut down at random times. You can confirm your make of Sky box by looking at the sticker that should be on the bottom of your box. By pressing Services, 4, 5 and accessing the System Details, software version 3.8.8 is the one that is causing the issues. All other Sky boxes and software versions are at the moment OK.
You can correct this problem yourself, by performing a manual software update which rolls back the software to the previous working version.
This process should be done in the morning, and only if you are getting the background music playing when you enter the Sky menu system, as the frequency for the software download may not be available on small dishes or in the afternoon, and performing it when the frequency is not there could damage your Sky box.
1 Unplug your sky box from the power
2 Press and hold the BACKUP button on the Sky box – not the remote control.
3 Still pressing the Back up button, reapply the power.
4 Keep pressing the back up button on the Sky box until RED YELOW and GREEN light glow on the front panel of the box. A “Downloading” message may also appear on the screen
5 Once these lights have appeared you can release the Back up button, as the box has now started the software download.
6 The Sky box will reboot once the download has been completed. You can confirm if the correct software has been downloaded by going once again into the System Details (Service, 4, 5) and checking that the Software version is now 3.7.6
I should better reiterate that this process should only be down if you can get the download frequency (11778) indicated by the background music on the sky menu screen, that you may also have to re add those “extra” ITV1, C4 and Five channels you have added into your Other Channels lists, and that you perform this upgrade at your own risk and I cannot be held liable if it fails and / or damages your Sky box
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Saturday, May 22, 2010
2010 Football World Cup on UK TV Channels
2010 Football World Cup on UK TV Channels
2010 Football World Cup in South Africa will be available on many UK TV channels (BBC and ITV) and on Spanish TV (Cuatro, Telecinco and D+). Expect them to be available on BBC HD and ITV HD.
The first batch of 2010 Football world cup matches to be shown on BBC and ITV have been announced.....
Friday 11.06.10
1500 South Africa v Mexico ITV Johannesburg Soccer City
1930 Uruguay v France BBC Cape Town
Saturday 12.06.10
1230 South Korea v Greece ITV Port Elizabeth
1500 Argentina v Nigeria BBC Johannesburg Ellis Park
1930 England v USA ITV Rustenburg
Sunday 13.06.10
1230 Algeria v Slovenia BBC Polokwane
1500 Serbia v Ghana ITV Pretoria
1930 Germany v Australia ITV Durban
Monday 14.06.10
1230 Netherlands v Denmark ITV Johannesburg Soccer City
1500 Japan v Cameroon BBC Bloemfontein
1930 Italy v Paraguay BBC Cape Town
Tuesday 15.06.10
1230 New Zealand v Slovakia BBC Rustenburg
1500 Ivory Coast v Portugal ITV Port Elizabeth
1930 Brazil v North Korea ITV Johannesburg Ellis Park
Wednesday 16.06.10
1230 Honduras v Chile ITV Nelspruit
1500 Spain v Switzerland BBC Durban
1930 South Africa v Uruguay BBC Pretoria
Thursday 17.06.10
1230 Argentina v South Korea ITV Johannesburg Soccer City
1500 Greece v Nigeria BBC Bloemfontein
1930 France v Mexico BBC Polkowane
Friday 18.06.10
1230 Germany v Serbia BBC Port Elizabeth
1500 Slovenia v USA BBC Johannesburg Ellis Park
1930 England v Algeria ITV Cape Town
Saturday 19.06.10
1230 Netherlands v Japan ITV Durban
1500 Ghana v Australia BBC Rustenburg
1930 Cameroon v Denmark ITV Pretoria
Sunday 20.06.10
1230 Slovakia v Paraguay BBC Bloemfontein
1500 Italy v New Zealand ITV Nelspruit
1930 Brazil v Ivory Coast BBC Johannesburg Soccer City
Monday 21.06.10
1230 Portugal v North Korea BBC Cape Town
1500 Chile v Switzerland BBC Port Elizabeth
1930 Spain v Honduras ITV Johannesburg Ellis Park
Tuesday 22.06.10
1500 Mexico v Uruguay ITV Rustenburg
1500 France v South Africa ITV Bloemfontein
1930 Nigeria v South Korea BBC Durban
1930 Greece v Argentina BBC Polkowane
Wednesday 23.06.10
1500 Slovenia v England BBC Port Elizabeth
They will be available on:
the BBC Sports streams (even available on a small dish (say 80cms) via BBC News, Red button 3001 select - or on a generic FTA on the Streams (0-6) on 12441 v 27500)
ITV1 - again on a small (80cms ) dish using those on 11973v 2700 2/3 and a freesatfromsky card)
ITV1 HD - again on a small (80cms ) dish using those on 11973v 2700 2/3, a sky hd box and a freesatfromsky card)
Telecinco and La Sexta - have about 15 matches in total
D+ (Spanish satellite service - all matches)
ITV can be received on a "big dish" for free (ie without a sky card), or on a small satellite dish with a sky card.
ITV on the Costa Blanca
BBC can be received on a "big dish" for free (ie without a sky card).
BBC TV on the Costa Blanca
BBC Sports Interactive Streams can be accessed on a small satellite dish.
BBC Sports Interactive Streams
For more information please visit:
2010 Football World Cup Costa Blanca Spain
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
2010 Football World Cup in South Africa will be available on many UK TV channels (BBC and ITV) and on Spanish TV (Cuatro, Telecinco and D+). Expect them to be available on BBC HD and ITV HD.
The first batch of 2010 Football world cup matches to be shown on BBC and ITV have been announced.....
Friday 11.06.10
1500 South Africa v Mexico ITV Johannesburg Soccer City
1930 Uruguay v France BBC Cape Town
Saturday 12.06.10
1230 South Korea v Greece ITV Port Elizabeth
1500 Argentina v Nigeria BBC Johannesburg Ellis Park
1930 England v USA ITV Rustenburg
Sunday 13.06.10
1230 Algeria v Slovenia BBC Polokwane
1500 Serbia v Ghana ITV Pretoria
1930 Germany v Australia ITV Durban
Monday 14.06.10
1230 Netherlands v Denmark ITV Johannesburg Soccer City
1500 Japan v Cameroon BBC Bloemfontein
1930 Italy v Paraguay BBC Cape Town
Tuesday 15.06.10
1230 New Zealand v Slovakia BBC Rustenburg
1500 Ivory Coast v Portugal ITV Port Elizabeth
1930 Brazil v North Korea ITV Johannesburg Ellis Park
Wednesday 16.06.10
1230 Honduras v Chile ITV Nelspruit
1500 Spain v Switzerland BBC Durban
1930 South Africa v Uruguay BBC Pretoria
Thursday 17.06.10
1230 Argentina v South Korea ITV Johannesburg Soccer City
1500 Greece v Nigeria BBC Bloemfontein
1930 France v Mexico BBC Polkowane
Friday 18.06.10
1230 Germany v Serbia BBC Port Elizabeth
1500 Slovenia v USA BBC Johannesburg Ellis Park
1930 England v Algeria ITV Cape Town
Saturday 19.06.10
1230 Netherlands v Japan ITV Durban
1500 Ghana v Australia BBC Rustenburg
1930 Cameroon v Denmark ITV Pretoria
Sunday 20.06.10
1230 Slovakia v Paraguay BBC Bloemfontein
1500 Italy v New Zealand ITV Nelspruit
1930 Brazil v Ivory Coast BBC Johannesburg Soccer City
Monday 21.06.10
1230 Portugal v North Korea BBC Cape Town
1500 Chile v Switzerland BBC Port Elizabeth
1930 Spain v Honduras ITV Johannesburg Ellis Park
Tuesday 22.06.10
1500 Mexico v Uruguay ITV Rustenburg
1500 France v South Africa ITV Bloemfontein
1930 Nigeria v South Korea BBC Durban
1930 Greece v Argentina BBC Polkowane
Wednesday 23.06.10
1500 Slovenia v England BBC Port Elizabeth
They will be available on:
the BBC Sports streams (even available on a small dish (say 80cms) via BBC News, Red button 3001 select - or on a generic FTA on the Streams (0-6) on 12441 v 27500)
ITV1 - again on a small (80cms ) dish using those on 11973v 2700 2/3 and a freesatfromsky card)
ITV1 HD - again on a small (80cms ) dish using those on 11973v 2700 2/3, a sky hd box and a freesatfromsky card)
Telecinco and La Sexta - have about 15 matches in total
D+ (Spanish satellite service - all matches)
ITV can be received on a "big dish" for free (ie without a sky card), or on a small satellite dish with a sky card.
ITV on the Costa Blanca
BBC can be received on a "big dish" for free (ie without a sky card).
BBC TV on the Costa Blanca
BBC Sports Interactive Streams can be accessed on a small satellite dish.
BBC Sports Interactive Streams
For more information please visit:
2010 Football World Cup Costa Blanca Spain
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
LOST - The Finale
LOST has its finale this coming weekend.
The final ever episode of the hit USA television series, shown on Sky TV in the UK, and on Cuatro in Spain, comes to an end....
In Spain, we get the 2 hour plus finale 1 day after it is shown in the USA....and 4 days BEFORE it is shown on Sky One in the UK!!!
Broadcast Dates
USA / Canada: May 23, 2010 on CTV
Spain: May 24, 2010 on Fox and Cuatro
*available on Cuatro in ENGLISH
United Kingdom: May 28, 2010 on Sky1/Sky1 HD
Here is a sneek peek of "The End"
UPDATE
LOST finale on Sky 1 at 5am Monday morning...
Sky1 is to broadcast the finale of Lost at 5am on Monday 24 May, as a simulcast with ABC's broadcast on the US west coast.
The unprecedented scheduling move aims to prevent illegal internet downloads of the finale – and save UK fans of the show from having to spend five days dodging web spoilers.
Sky1 was planning to transmit the two-and-a-half hour finale to the US drama in its normal 9pm slot next Friday, 28 May, before today deciding to join broadcasters in six other countries in simulcasting the show.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
The final ever episode of the hit USA television series, shown on Sky TV in the UK, and on Cuatro in Spain, comes to an end....
In Spain, we get the 2 hour plus finale 1 day after it is shown in the USA....and 4 days BEFORE it is shown on Sky One in the UK!!!
Broadcast Dates
USA / Canada: May 23, 2010 on CTV
Spain: May 24, 2010 on Fox and Cuatro
*available on Cuatro in ENGLISH
United Kingdom: May 28, 2010 on Sky1/Sky1 HD
Here is a sneek peek of "The End"
UPDATE
LOST finale on Sky 1 at 5am Monday morning...
Sky1 is to broadcast the finale of Lost at 5am on Monday 24 May, as a simulcast with ABC's broadcast on the US west coast.
The unprecedented scheduling move aims to prevent illegal internet downloads of the finale – and save UK fans of the show from having to spend five days dodging web spoilers.
Sky1 was planning to transmit the two-and-a-half hour finale to the US drama in its normal 9pm slot next Friday, 28 May, before today deciding to join broadcasters in six other countries in simulcasting the show.
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sony SET TV on TDT gone - replaced by AXN
Sony Entertainment TV, or SET, has been replaced by AXN on Spains TDT service.
If you try to view SET on TDT then you will either get a Channel Scrambled message, or just a blank screen.
The Sony SET channel has been replaced by AXN.
This is a subscription only channel on TDT.
You need a viewing card and subscription to view AXN.
AXN shows many USA imported programmes:
Andromeda, E.R., The Collector, Fastlane, F/X: The Series, Highlander, Homicide: Life on the Street, Kidnapped, MacGyver, Michael Hayes, Mutant X, New York Undercover, Nash Bridges, Odyssey 5, Police Rescue, Quantum Leap, Relic Hunter, Criminal Minds, Sliders, Third Watch, The Shield, Ghost Whisperer, Fear Itself, Lost, FlashForward
More information on Sony SET on TDT being replaced HERE
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
If you try to view SET on TDT then you will either get a Channel Scrambled message, or just a blank screen.
The Sony SET channel has been replaced by AXN.
This is a subscription only channel on TDT.
You need a viewing card and subscription to view AXN.
AXN shows many USA imported programmes:
Andromeda, E.R., The Collector, Fastlane, F/X: The Series, Highlander, Homicide: Life on the Street, Kidnapped, MacGyver, Michael Hayes, Mutant X, New York Undercover, Nash Bridges, Odyssey 5, Police Rescue, Quantum Leap, Relic Hunter, Criminal Minds, Sliders, Third Watch, The Shield, Ghost Whisperer, Fear Itself, Lost, FlashForward
More information on Sony SET on TDT being replaced HERE
For more information please visit:
The Sat and PC Guy - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
or the forum
The Sat and PC Guy FORUM - Digital Satellite and Terrestrial Installations and Maintenance for the Costa Blanca
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