Interesting that gecko and SBN are on the 7 multiplex down there (usually on 10).
Really hoping the metros start to finally move to MPEG4 and do this LCN switch soon too. Only a matter of time, surely.
Is it because SCA is the Ten affiliate on the mainland, but 7 in Tasmania?
Ten in Tasmania is split between WIN and SCA so that might be prohobitive for adding paid programming channels.
Yeah, I believe thatās the reason for it. SCA has the agreement and those channels so they can get all the revenue from it by haaving it on the 7 mux rather than the joint venture one.
We also donāt have the Sky News channel either, whether thatās a space limitation or what Iām not sure and also no 7flix.
From Freeview
From today the channel numbers of some of your favourite TV services are changing in #Tasmania The change affects all five primary TV channels in Tasmania & will result in improved picture quality + more High-Definition channels
That really is a poor graphic making it look like channels are vacating the single number LCNs rather than switching the HD versions to there.
Iām glad the old HD channel numbers are still there, itās hard to break the habit but itās definitely already great having the single digit numbers being the HD and just comparing with the SD versions for the first time in ages - Iād forgotten how different it all was between the two versions. Hopefully itās a change that goes well and does roll out nationwide quickly.
Not to mention the line
as though there are now more HD channels.
Well they kept the old x0 HD channels and added the ones on the single digit LCNs, so now double the HD!
Given Gem is HD and SC has the same all MPEG-4 setup, hopefully 7mate HD isnāt too far away, likewise Bold for TDT.
Yep, 3 less HD than the mainland capitals:
10 Bold, 7 Mate and 7 Bravo.
Iām surprised Paramount havenāt made Nickelodeon HD considering the content at nights.
One thing I noticed when reading the paper yesterday was the channel numbers after the names and I wondered how long it would take for those to change, looks like it wasnāt long at all though so good to see that has been done already.
Yesterday:
Today:
I donāt like how theyāre just ignoring the x0 simulcasts now in any of the literature. They should just advertise all three LCNās for each primary service.
It really highlights how shambolic our LCN setup is - there is no need for additional LCNs for the same service (even more so when we finally ditch this SD/HD duplication). One channel, one LCN should be the aim
The problem is if they get rid of the single digit duplicates they lose that prominent positioning at the top of the list. On the other hand, if they get rid of the double digit duplicates they separate the primary service from the multiās and it looks like there are less options. If I was in charge Iād sacrifice the single digits and just give the top of the list to 10. No one watches them anyway lol.
If it was me, Iād put the HD channel in the single digits and keep the x0 as a duplicate.
For the small minority that canāt get MPEG-4, theyāll have to get a set top box or new TV. Itās 2023 for goodness sake, theyāll need to update sooner or later.
Iād prefer an approach like Freeview UK and NZ. So use 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 for the main HD channel. Then let the networks fight it out to include their multis in the top 10. Then sequential for the rest with no repeats. Use LCNs 100+ for radio channels.
Might end up like this:
1 10 Bold
2 ABC HD
3 SBS ONE HD
4 SBS VICELAND
5 ABC Plus
6 7mate
7 7HD
8 9Gem
9 9HD
10 10HD
11 10 Peach
etc.
Of course what happens with regional LCNs? No idea. Abolish them and run the same as metro maybeā¦
Theyāll probably have to stay as is at least in overlap areas.
I donāt have a problem with the current structure, other than not using the single digit LCNs for main channel HD.
I think we need to move past that though even in overlap areas. It will be easier once common ownership potentially happens.
If 10 buys NRN from WIN weāll be there in Northern NSW so itās not out of the question!
7 already owns Prime in much of Australia. Meanwhile, in regional Queensland, Seven uses 7/7x, except for the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba which are near Brisbane. So it could start to happen real soon if they wanted it to.