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UTV HD coming to Sky, Freesat and Freeview

Under the new ITV/STV/UTV arrangements, UTV HD will soon be showing on Freeview and Freesat, in addition to Virgin TV in the province.

Under the new ITV/STV/UTV arrangements, UTV HD will soon be sho
Published on by on UK Free TV
According to www.broadcastnow.co.uk link icon ITV strikes 'landmark' agreements with STV and UTV - News - Broadcast, there is good news at last for Freesat and Sky viewers in Northern Ireland:

"Under the agreement, UTV will secure distribution for UTV HD on Sky and Freesat, as well as Freeview following digital switchover. Furthermore, ITV will continue to handle UTV’s national advertising sales."

UTV HD is expected on Freeview HD on the last UK switchover date, Wednesday 24th October 2012.

In addition, from www.u.tv link icon  UTV signs new network deal - UTV Live News :

"We are especially pleased to plan the launch of UTV HD on both Sky and DTT by the end of this year, to complement the existing UTV HD service available to Virgin customers in Northern Ireland." - Michael Wilson, UTV managing director





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Josh
Monday 5 March 2012 2:09PM
Will this mean that Sky+ HD sunscribers in Northern Ireland will get UTV HD in the 103 position because of Sky's HD channel swap where the HD version of a channel appears in the slot for Sky+ HD subscribers where the SD version of a channel would normally appear? And if not, why not?
David
Monday 5 March 2012 2:17PM
What is UTV is it in addition to BBC1 or ITV1 or another name for one of them in place of what we get in England?
Dave Lindsay
Monday 5 March 2012 2:24PM
David: UTV is the Channel 3 operator for Northern Ireland. The letters stand for "Ulster Television".

"ITV1" is the branding that the operator ITV Plc uses across the regional Channel 3 licences it operates.
David
Monday 5 March 2012 4:05PM
Yes I realised it meant Ulster making it a UK station in Northern Ireland.
So is it in addition there to ITV1 England or a replacement to it?
What I'm realy trying to get at is if we are going to be able to recieve it in England is it allmost the same programs to our ITV on 119 Freesat?
PaulN
Monday 5 March 2012 4:41PM Larne
It means you will be able to enjoy our wonderful local productions, enthralling news & documentary programs as well as fantastic local adverts - all in glorious HD. Freesat & Sky HD subscriptions will be soaring as a result. LOL...

Its pretty much same line-up ITV except with the usual regional variations now and again plus local ads/news - great for expats who like to keep in touch with things or anyone else wishing to speak proper NornIron accent like :)
Briantist
Monday 5 March 2012 6:07PM
Josh: I was wondering that, but it doesn't happen to viewers in Wales, where there is also a whole "national region" for ITV1.

It would be a good idea though...
Briantist
Monday 5 March 2012 6:20PM
David: Just to add to Dave Lindsay's explanation.

The channel you get on the 3 or 103 button is licensed by Ofcom under the various Broadcasting Acts on a regional basis.

There are many regional licences in England, one that straddles England and Scotland (Border), one of Wales, two for Scotland and one for Northern Ireland.

The two licences for Scotland (Scottish TV and Grampian TV) are owned by STV. The Northern Ireland one by UTV and the rest by ITV plc.

Mainly because of the domination of the channel in the advertising market (once called a "licence to print money") the ITV companies are require to not broadcast outside their areas, and ITV plc is required to provide, by the competition authorities, regional advertising options.

So, UTV appears on the 103/3 position in Northern Ireland, STV in the central belt and highlands and islands of Scotland, and ITV-1 elsewhere.
Conor
Tuesday 6 March 2012 11:22AM
lets hope they get it on to freesat and sky before euro 2012 football finals in june so the people in northern Ireland can watch football in HD
U
Tuesday 6 March 2012 1:48PM
UTV owns several radio stations in the Republic.It is also on UPC cable Epg channel 110.TV3 objected to SKY Ireland having UTV on EPG,so it is only available in other channels menu.It has a large audience in SouthWest Scotland, competiton entries and comment welcome from this area as well as Republic.
Peter Henderson
Friday 9 March 2012 11:32AM
Conor: I would imagine there would be a period of testing before it officially comes onto the Sky EPG.

Great news though and wish they'd sort the issue out on satellite sooner rather than having to wait until DSO.

I gather UTV+1 will also appear on Freesat and Sky around the same time.
Peter Henderson
Friday 9 March 2012 11:39AM
David: UTV appears on the 103 position on a Northern Ireland both the Sky EPG. ITV 1 London is on 993.

ITV 1 HD can be viewed using the add channels option on Sky, and non Freesat mode on Freesat.

I would imagine UTV HD will occupy channel 178 on Sky (ITV 1 HD's Sky EPG No. in England and Wales) when it becomes available.
Conor
Friday 27 April 2012 3:11PM
I still think UTV are still to slow on putting there hd channell on to sky and freesat I know that there is space up there for them they should of been on there by know and the freeview at the end of this year I have sent lot off complaints about this by phone and email and they have started to fob of me and others too so the people in northern ireland miss euro 2012 in hd on sky. and I have already have ITV1 HD by doing an English postcode
Peter Henderson
Friday 27 April 2012 7:28PM
I agree with you Conner.

Now that the rights issues etc. have been sorted out, there's absolutely no reason why UTV HD (and UTV+1) should not be on Sky and Freesat now.
Conor
Tuesday 15 May 2012 1:01AM
UTV are not the first irish channel on sky in hd RTE2 are in hd already
Conor
Friday 18 May 2012 3:53PM
looks like we are going to miss another sporting event in hd due to UTV not giveing us hd for the euro 2012 on freesat and sky I think that UTV hass to brought down to ground and there channel 3 licence handed to ITV so the people in Northern Ireland get ITV1HD on BOTH freesat and sky EPG I think every body who read this have to phone UTV and push them to unblock ITV1HD on both FREESAT AND SKY until DSO IF you agree put lots of blogs on this
KMJ,Derby
Friday 18 May 2012 5:19PM
Conor: ITV1 Granada HD is available free-to-air on satellite, if you don't mind a Manchester slant to the commercials.
Peter Henderson
Friday 18 May 2012 7:37PM
Shame it's not on ether the Sky or Freesat EPG's though.
Briantist
Saturday 19 May 2012 8:18AM
Peter Henderson: I thought that ITV London appeared in the 900s?
leslierainer
Saturday 19 May 2012 5:46PM Skegness
does this mean we are to get ulster tv hd on free sat and when if u dont mind me asking
Peter Henderson
Saturday 19 May 2012 8:31PM
Yes, it does Brian, on channel 993. However, ITV 1 HD is not on channel 178 (which
is blank) in NI.

I assume UTV HD will be on 178 when it officially gets the go ahead (24th October ?)

I would also assume there will be a period of testing before the launch when it will be available using the add channels feature ?
Briantist
Sunday 20 May 2012 3:17PM
Peter Henderson: There's not much need for "testing" really, most of the time channels appear on air at the same times as the EPG information is updated.
Briantist
Sunday 20 May 2012 3:30PM
leslierainer: As per the article, 24th October 2012 is the date.
Ronnie kernaghan
Sunday 27 January 2013 8:13PM
When are utv going hd the picture quality is very poor when you are watching sport ??
james kerr
Wednesday 20 February 2013 1:30PM
its 2013 and still nooooooooo UTV HD for Northern Ireland on Sky :( we should get a reduce bill seeing we are losing out on utv Hd while England has itv1 hd they keep saying yes will will get it but when ? july 2013 now ? :(
Peter Henderson
Thursday 21 February 2013 4:13PM Newtownabbey
Yep, was thinking that myself James.

Firstly, they said it would be here by the end of 2012, then by the first quarterr 2013. Well, here we are approaching the end of the first quarter 2013 and still no sign of UTV HD on either Sky or Freesat. Not even a test transmission.

I thought the appearance of BBC1 NI HD would have spurned them on a bit, but obviously not.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Vincenzo Mesce
Monday 11 March 2013 5:10PM
Can anyone explain when UTV HD will be available on sky
Peter Henderson
Wednesday 13 March 2013 2:27AM
No one seems to have any idea.
conor
Thursday 11 April 2013 8:29PM
every body who reads this email them and phone them and tell them that wee have ran out of patience with them and they have to put it on sky and freesat by the end of april no later that is what I have been doing from the begining of the month and complaing why are the blocking itv hd on sky and freesat and have sent a letter of complaint to ofcom also
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