BBC And Five In Freeview Deal

The BBC and Five have reached an agreement for Five to be carried on one of the BBC’s multiplexes in the early switchover regions.

The agreement allows Five’s main service to be carried on the BBC’s Freeview Multiplex B when the switchover begins in the border region.

The agreement means that Five will be received as widely as the other public service channels in the first parts of the country to undergo digital switchover: Border, Westcountry and Wales.

A major reorganisation of the DTT platform is planned to take place in time for switchover in the Granada region in late 2009, in order to accommodate the launch of High Definition (HD) services.

A key feature of that reorganisation is for Five to continue to be available on a multiplex with the same reach as other public service channels, as switchover takes place. As such, the arrangement with the BBC is a temporary one and is designed to facilitate digital switchover until that reorganisation takes place in late 2009.

The Five network is currently broadcast on the ITV-owned SDN multiplex, which is not available in many areas.

Five’s position on Multiplex B in the Selkirk part of the Border region was formalised by variations to the channel’s licence, requiring broadcast from all transmitters in that area from 20 November, 2008, the day on which switchover takes place in Selkirk.

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk