BBC Announcement regarding collapse of ITV Digital - 2002

[docmartenialation]

I would love it if ITV colapsed completley. or went back to regional

[pigeonshouse]

This paved the way for freeview in some way (though the top comments make that pretty clear).

I never heard this announcement as I was in San Francisco celebrating my 21st birthday that day.

[xandy1959]

rebranding @williamg209  same station another name

[williamg209]

why did they get rid of bbc choice

[aceamen]

This may sound slightly thick but what was ITV Digital and why did it collapse?

[CHANNELMICHAEL]

@aceamen ITV Digital/On Digital was the DTT platform in the UK before Freeview, it was owned by ITV and not exactly a free service, you required a viewing card to view channels on it.

[JFredUK]

@aceamen It was the first digital TV service in the UK. Originally called ONDigital, it began broadcasting in July 2001 and lasted less than a year. It was out-performed by Sky, who had it's own digital service, via satellite offering more channels for less cash, with no need for a modem connected to a phoneline in order to get most of the services. Paying Football league teams for rights to show their matches was the death-knell, that also left a lot of clubs in debt.

[ivorbigunzz]

Didn't ITV learn anything from BSB?

Guess not.

[leeirisray]

dess the box sill work today if so can someone make video of ITV Digital box working today ??

[TumbleTower]

@leeirisray Only in areas in areas officially yet to switch to digital, i.e. Meridian, London, Tyne Tees and Ulster. Provided you're in range of a transmitter broadcasting pre-DSO DTT in one of those areas, an OnDigital / ITV Digital box will still work.

In switched areas, the post-DSO DTT muxes are a different format to the pre-DSO format. ITV Digital boxes aren't compatible with the new format, so they won't work anywhere in the UK once the final region Ulster switches in October 2012.

[blakbery11]

I Was about 2 or 3 :)

[lolloldog]

My dad worked for itv digital

[derick1259]

Broadcasted 2nd of May? That was James Dyson's brithday!

[fraserkatie]

JDCresswel that's my sisters birthday too!!!

[DickButtIoM]

The BBC wasn't allowed to turn BBC Choice into BBC3 before it got clearance from the government. It took much longer than anticipated. And it was able to change BBC Knowledge into BBC4 earlier.

[TumbleTower]

@DickButtIoM Why didn't the BBC call the said new digital channels BBC3 and BBC4 right from day 1?

[DeltaOmegaAlliance]

@TumbleTower Because of the fact that DTV gave viewers a choice.

[neonrider93]

i can't believe bbc 4 was made before bbc 3

[johncrwarner]

@neonrider93

What is now called BBC 3 was called BBC Choice at the time and it existed before BBC 4.

[97channel]

ITV Digital's collapse was a blessing in disguise, as it opened up the free to air model which has catapulted the digital switchover.

[jdcresswell]

Broadcast 2nd of May? Thats my birthday. I was 12 that day!

[Rusty3921]

@jdcresswell Happy Early 21st B-Day

[jdcresswell]

@Rusty3921 Thanks! Actually I was 11 that day. Made a mistake lol So im 20 on May 2nd. lol That comment is also 1 year old. Forgot I even left it.

[JB1601]

There was a worry that all ITV Digital viewers would immeditately throw their boxes in the bin, when the BBC had their eye on launching the freeview service and using it as a key plank in digital switchover.

[RobinCarmody]

Note that she doesn't mention BBC Parliament - which at the time was only available in audio form on DTT.