Hello - just a few comments on the UK situation…
The UK doesn’t use HBBtv (“Freeview Plus” here); it uses MHEG. As I (only vaguely) understand it, HBBtv requires an internet connection; MHEG doesn’t, and uses a low amount of broadcast bandwidth. MHEG is typically used to a) add a slate for audio channels with a logo and some words; b) add a slate for off-air channels saying “Babestation returns at midnight”; c) add rudimentary pay-per-view (normally done by putting a fullscreen slate over the picture and requiring a code to be punched-in, which changes every few minutes, that removes the slate). I think the reason MHEG existed is due to analogue teletext services, which were quite well viewed in the UK for quite some time, and which didn’t work on digital.
An HD-capable box normally adds the capability for an MHEG app which also decodes a stream via the internet: so you can add ‘fake’ channels that aren’t broadcast but do get a channel number. This should work as flawlessly as Fetch TV works here, but in reality, switching to a channel like this means a ten-second wait for the MHEG application to load, followed by a question to the viewer if they wish to connect to the internet to alleviate billshock.
Unlike Australia, all broadcasters share broadcast infrastructure. Mount Coot-Tha would look nice, with only one big transmitter up there instead of the ragtag collection there is; and multiplex signal strengths are - or should be - identical given a correctly specced antenna.
Multiplexes are all operated by Arqiva (the UK’s Broadcast Australia); some ‘owned’ by the BBC.
The EPG is heavily regulated. All channels are grouped based on format; so all news channels are together, all kids channels are together, etc.
Many of the channels are part-time - obviously adult channels, but also some others. This is partly because of available spectrum, but there are also regulatory reasons which I’ve never fully understood. In addition, most multiplexes are national, rather than carrying local programming - and this currently means that a viewer of BBC ONE HD (the equivalent of ABC HD) gets a ludicrous animation when the local news bulletins are broadcasting that tells you to switch over to BBC ONE SD… since the BBC HD multiplex is national (at least, England-wide).
Personally, I’m astonished that a viewer of ABC Kids can turn the TV on later in the evening and see very strong language on ABC Comedy. In the UK, if a child watching CBeebies turns the television on later in the evening, they get a little MHEG slate that says “CBeebies has gone to bed. We’ll be back in the morning at 6.00am!” It takes up virtually no bandwidth, and ensures that little ears don’t hear grown-up words. They do the same on Sky (satellite).
Anyway, I hope all that’s helpful. I found this thread because I was curious why 7 isn’t available in Bundaberg in HD, while the infinitely more rubbish 7mate has a local HD signal. I can’t say I’m entirely clear now, but there’s clearly a lot of interesting stuff in this thread, so thank you for posting (and thanks for reading!)
) opportunity that they’ve wasted.