BBC Announcement regarding collapse of ITV Digital - 2002

In May 2002, ITV Digital finally collapsed. The BBC quickly reassured viewers of the continued availability of its channels. Broadcast 2 May 2002

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• bbc
• presentation
• 2002
• itv
• digital
• channels
• collapse

[neonrider93]

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

[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.

[DeltaOmegaAlliance]

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

[docmartenialation]

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

[TumbleTower]

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

[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.

[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.

[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

[johncrwarner]

@neonrider93

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

[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.

[williamg209]

why did they get rid of bbc choice