After crashing off-air with no advance warning or explanation, two classic entertainment channels from That’s TV are back on Freeview screens.
That’s TV UK (channel 56) and That’s TV 2 (channel 65) disappeared off Freeview on Monday in what appears to have been the result of a contractual issue regarding their ongoing distribution on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform.
Both channels screen classic British entertainment and music shows and have built up a small but devoted following. That’s TV’s main channel is widely listed in printed TV guides.
But until Friday afternoon, Freeview viewers were greeted by a “channel is currently not available” message.
Upon returning to Freeview screens, That’s TV broke its long spell of silence on social media to thank viewers for “their patience and kind comments whilst we fixed up our shiny new distribution arrangements just in time for the festive season.” It did not apologise for the loss of service.
Most of the comments posted during the outage seen by RXTV were negative regarding That’s TV’s silence and lack of information. Comments have turned more positive now the service has returned.
Context: How a contractual issue became most likely cause
That’s TV’s other channels continued to be available on Freeview throughout the week.
These other channels, including seasonal service That’s Christmas and That’s TV 3 operate under different distribution arrangements. That’s partly due to the way Freeview signals are broadcast and the limited capacity available on the platform.
Broadcasters wanting to be on Freeview must sign distribution or carriage agreements with one of a limited number of multiplex operators, who own the bandwidth.
Each operator has limited capacity, with no one multiplex operator having spare capacity to carry all of That’s TV’s national channels. As a result, That’s TV has a number of arrangements with different multiplex operators.
That’s TV UK and That’s TV 2 are carried by the same multiplex operator.
Ruling out technical issues
That’s TV UK and That’s TV 2’s ongoing availability on other platforms, including Sky satellite, ruled out an actual technical issue with the channels. Consequently, a non-disclosed contractual issue regarding its distribution arrangements for those two channels became the most likely cause.
In November, Ofcom granted That’s TV a renewal of its local TV Freeview licences until 2034. The renewal included a condition it abides by a regulatory Direction regarding local news output. Its local channels appear on either Freeview channel 7 or 8 in 22 areas of the UK. These local services were unaffected by this week’s issues.
Analysis: Disputes that lead to channels falling off air
That’s TV will hope its explanation will be lapped up without question.
But channels suddenly disappearing and returning again days later are normally reserved for obscure broadcasters in the lower reaches of Sky’s satellite TV service. Sky is known to delist channels if a broadcaster is unable to fulfil their contractual obligations, such as payment of carriage fees.
It is still unusual in the UK for a professional broadcaster to allow contractual arrangements to reach a point that results in services disappearing, when advertising revenues are at stake.
It’s more common in the US, where broadcasters regularly enter high-profile battles with TV platform operators, leading to black outs. That’s normally followed by a very public battle for hearts and minds. Both parties reach out to viewers keen to highlight their side of the story regarding the loss of services.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: That’s TV screenshot