AROUND THE WORLD | A Spanish TV platform operator has angered many of its subscribers after it closed down numerous HD channels, leaving viewers with just standard definition services.
It’s a move that could one day be replicated in the UK as a ploy to encourage viewers to switch to online streaming services.
Movistar Plus+ has started a phased withdrawal of HD channels on satellite. The first batch of channels were withdrawn without warning in November, with more channels disappearing before Christmas. The channels include some of the country’s main channels as well as a range of sports and entertainment channels from DAZN, Disney and Paramount among others.
In August 2023, Movistar Plus+, which is owned by Telefonica, announced it had renewed satellite capacity on the Astra 1 satellite system in a deal with satellite operator SES running until 2030.
However, Telefonica appeared to be less keen on mentioning what the consequences would be. As has since emerged, the deal encompassed fewer satellite transponders, meaning the Movistar Plus+ service would need to be shrunk to fit on less space. Or: there would be no more space to carry HD channels.
Irate customers, who had been kept in the dark about the changes, flooded the company’s customer forums.
The move is designed to encourage satellite subscribers to make the switch to the Movistar Plus+ streaming service. Here, viewers can continue to access services in HD and even 4K UHD. Already, Telefonica has managed to get the majority of its TV subscribers switched over to streaming. The company has been heavily incentivising its online TV offer since it took ownership of the former Canal+ platform in Spain a decade ago.
But it’s bad news for anyone who currently doesn’t benefit from fast fixed-line broadband.
Could it happen in the UK?
Not yet on satellite, where broadcasters are actively turning off standard definition broadcasts, not HD. Here, all main broadcasters have their own agreements with the satellite operator, so wouldn’t be bound to any decision made by Sky to push viewers to Sky Stream. Sky’s satellite contract ends in 2028, which could lead to channels closing in advance.
But it could still happen to terrestrial TV viewers (Freeview), where the licence to operate the Freeview HD multiplex currently expires in 2026. The BBC – holder of the licence – will need to decide what it wants to do with the capacity going forward. Ofcom will renew the licence until 2034 if a renewal is sought.
As free-to-air broadcasters launch Freeview replacement Freely, the new streaming service will provide a much greater range of HD channels. The buzz is that Freely will include HD versions of all ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 offshoot channels. The temptation will be to turn off the few HD channels carried on Freeview, as an incentive to get viewers switching over to Freely.
▶ Around the World
As 2023 ends, a look at how other countries are developing their TV platforms as viewers expect more HD, 4K and more streaming.
- Poland gets an upgrade to terrestrial TV
- Italy plans terrestrial TV switch to DVB-T2/HEVC, but also trials new DVB-I fallback service