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Ofcom response More4
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Just got a reply from Ofcom re the fact that More4 was not free after Channel 4 saying it would be.
They have supported Channel 4 position in that they never said it was going to be free to air.
The confusion might have arisen due to a press release on 26th August which referred to More4 being free to air.
This was at a time when they thought they would be able to provide it free but when they found out this was not to be the case care was taken to ensure all subsequent press info and website were updated to refer to the availability of More4 on Freeview,Sky Digital and digital cable only.
Regarding the issue of whether it should be on Freesat this is a matter between Sky and Channel 4.
Just to add they say that they are only responsible for on-air promotions not misleading.
They have supported Channel 4 position in that they never said it was going to be free to air.
The confusion might have arisen due to a press release on 26th August which referred to More4 being free to air.
This was at a time when they thought they would be able to provide it free but when they found out this was not to be the case care was taken to ensure all subsequent press info and website were updated to refer to the availability of More4 on Freeview,Sky Digital and digital cable only.
Regarding the issue of whether it should be on Freesat this is a matter between Sky and Channel 4.
Just to add they say that they are only responsible for on-air promotions not misleading.
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Whitewash
Hogwash
:mad:
Just a standard letter sent to all complainants then.
I guess it must be. It sounds like the same letter I got this morning too. They did say that they had a number of complaints in the reply so I suspect they thought a generic reply to us all would do. It's a bit annoying when they don't answer a specific point you raise.
In the letter it says that this is a reply to those who thought that More4 would be available on the.......
Sky digital terrestrial platform,Freesat.
I thought that terrestrial was the term used for Freeview from land based transmitters to your normal aerial.
Me to C4 on 10 October
I have been looking forward to the launch of More4 and the documentaries and current affairs programming it will offer. I have been led to believe that it is free-to-air. Mainly by the head of More4 when he wrote on The Guardian today where he stated it would be a free-to-air channel. All the press packs had this information as well.
Launch day comes and it is encrypted on my digibox. I do not subscribe to Sky and am not willing to pay £15 a month to watch More4. Does More4's boss have a different view of "free" from everyone else? I think it is scandalous that a publicly-owned corporation like Channel 4 forces viewers to pay to watch their channel. Is all of this because of the carriage contract Channel4 has with BSkyB? I know that when E4 went on Freeview, the subscription revenues from Sky were forgone but encryption had to stay for a further 2 years. I would have Freeview if I could but, unfortunately, it is not available in my area.
Personally, I find the out-and-out lies told by Channel4 on More4's FTA status a scandal. One viewer you have definitely lost.
C4 to me on 28 October
Thanks for your email regarding More 4 availability on FreeSat.
The decision to place More 4 in subscription package rather than as part of the FreeSat line up, is entirely in Sky's hands. We would obviously be delighted to see More 4 on FreeSat, but this is not our decision to make. Sky, on the other hand, can at any time decide to include our new channel as part of the FreeSat line-up.
Our promotional materials have deliberately avoided saying More 4 is free. The press release sent out on 26 August suggested that it would be free on all platforms and this is admittedly confusing. At the time, we were led to believe that Sky were likely to include More 4 in their FreeSat line up. The website 'Get More 4' was changed as soon as we were advised of the decision by Sky on the Friday (7th October) before the launch.
Whether or not this situation will change, is entirely at Sky's discretion. We would very much like to see More 4 feature as part of FreeSat.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us at Channel 4, we do appreciate all feedback from viewers. We would certainly advise that you contact Sky should you wish to voice any further concerns over this situation.
Me to C4 29 October
Please find attached a reply which I received from Richard Freudenstein - BSkyB's COO. He states that it is not the fault of Sky but of Channel 4.
Channel 4 signed an encryption contract with Sky in 2003 which prevents E4 and extra channels being broadcast in the clear. Why do you still insist that it is at Sky's discretion? Either Sky or C4 is not being truthful which is extemely alarming for the viewing public
C4 to me 14 November
We have nothing further to add to our original email.
Personally, although I also complained about More4 at the time, it has been overtaken by events as I think ITV4 is a much, much better Channel - The wife agrees, so it must be true!
Of course they have, they're all best mates these big chief media decsion maker types.
I have been surprised by the quality of ITV4 and Sky 3. Both of which I have watched a number of programs on. However I have still to watch anything on More4 or E4. In fact on reflection the only programs that I watch on 4 itself are Stargate and Startrek Enterprise so '4' as a whole are not doing very well in our household.
Unless someone swears before 9pm. Then it's like the world is going to end!
And completely useless if you live in 33% of the UK that doesn't have Freeview signals; or in Ireland or Holland, the two other countries that watch huge amounts of UK TV.
????????????
Loads of us can't get Freeview!