Arqiva pulls out of Freeview

jimb

Arqiva pulls out of Freeview.
https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2020/12/01/arqiva-pulls-out-of-freeview/
The Telegraph also says:
"Arqiva is also understood to be in talks with shareholders over the future of its stake in YouView..." 

Roy

@jimb

For me, the Telegraph says “I’ve put a bloody great notice all over the article you chose, saying you need to subscribe to read it”, so I’ll have to take your word for that.

According to this article:-
https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/arqiva-reluctant-to-invest-in-freeview-play-expansion
Arqiva were being asked to chip in for the expansion of the internet side of Freeview Play, which they couldn’t see as any sort of benefit to their Freeview/Freesat distribution business.

Freeview Play apparently want to counter the rise of Netflix and Amazon; which is rather like countering the rise of private cars by laying on free buses 😛

They may or may not have noticed Britbox happening, of course.

And why does no-one see NowTV as a threat? Have they correctly determined that it is a threat only to Sky’s full-fat offering? Or at least that it will be if only NowTV can stop the wheels coming off every five minutes?

kodikid

Think the issue here is the ethos of freeview is that it is widely available to everyone. 
Obviously streaming services like freeview play rely on a decent broadband connection which comes at a cost.
Arqiva must believe that strengthening the original freeview is a greater priority giving everyone a decent alternative to streaming. 

Roy

kodikid said:

Think the issue here is the ethos of freeview is that it is widely available to everyone. 
Obviously streaming services like freeview play rely on a decent broadband connection which comes at a cost.
Arqiva must believe that strengthening the original freeview is a greater priority giving everyone a decent alternative to streaming. 

If they did, though, wouldn’t they be doing away with the excrescence that is Freeview Light?

kodikid

Could never see the point of freeview lite, surely if your reception was that bad you would have freesat.

Roy

kodikid said:

Could never see the point of freeview lite, surely if your reception was that bad you would have freesat.

What, and miss out on YouView???

kodikid

Maybe it will be Youview that miss out.
Going forward how does its long term funding stand in the grand scheme of things. 

Roy

kodikid said:

Maybe it will be Youview that miss out.
Going forward how does its long term funding stand in the grand scheme of things. 

My little one-man company makes millions of pounds more profit than YouView does, year on year 😛