Following a Government decision permitting the renewal of multiplex licences up to 2034, the first licence renewals have taken place.
Ofcom has granted a renewal of the licences for Digital 3&4 and SDN, securing the bandwidth for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 for the next decade.
Digital 3&4 is the multiplex operator that currently carries ITV, ITV+1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 4, 4+1, E4, E4+1, Film4, More4 and Channel 5 in most of the UK. In Wales, the multiplex carries S4C in place of E4. ITV is a shareholder in D3&4, alongside Channel 4.
SDN meanwhile, is the ITV-owned commercial multiplex that currently carries Quest, QVC, Drama, 5 USA, TJC, ITVBe and others.
Both multiplex licences were due to expire later this year.
While channels carried on both services are subject to change and there’s been no word over any migration to DVB-T2 HD broadcasting, the licence renewals mean both multiplex operators can now work on their plans for the next decade, extending carriage agreements with broadcasters.
Meanwhile, ITV has appointed David Coughtrie to the role of Managing Director of SDN, who will oversee ongoing partnerships with broadcasters carried on the SDN multiplex. He replaces Ross Appleton, who stays at ITV as launch director of ITVX.