Channel 5 Consortium Finds Loophole

Channel 5 Holdings, the sole bidder for the new Channel Five TV station has come up with a seemingly revolutionary idea to transmit without the use of satellite dishes, decoders or subscription costs. The solution – to transmit via redundant radar frequencies – was masterminded by technical chief at C5 Holdings, Ellis Griffiths.

Griffiths maintains that the system will enable viewers in the London region to receive the new channel as easily as using the next button on their TV sets. In other parts of the country it would be a case of buying a regular aeriel – approx £2.50 – togain access to the station.

The discovery, if it goes into operation, could have a huge effect on the future of Channel 5, by putting it forward as serious competition for the new franchise holders which are coming on the scene in the New Year. London Weekend Television is shaken by the revelation, complaining to the ITC that the arrangement was not in the consortium’s original proposal.

Channel Five will not be trouble free, however, as millions of videos will still have to be retuned to avoid interference when the station begins transmission. The cost of this couldamount to as much as £75m, given that an ‘army of retuners’ will be sent all over the country to visit 7 million homes

The licence for Channel 5 is due to be given out later this month if the ITC is satisfied with the sole bidder’s proposal. Should C5 Holdings be fortunate enough to win, it will cost them a mere £1000 a year for the national station compared with Carlton’s £43m.

Channel 5 Holdings: 071 387 9494