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More Free Speedway On Tv?


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I hope I can help to clarify some confusion over this new channel. Free Sports is a sister channel to Premier Sports in the UK and eirsports in Ireland. It will only be an SD channel. The idea is to get people to pay for a subscription to the parent channels to get HD.

 

It launched Thursday morning at 6 am but so far only a fraction of the target audience can get it for various technical reasons, principally involving Sky who control the satellite signal to their subscribers plus Freesat and Virgin, both of whom use the same satellite feed as Sky for their services.

 

Right now the launch is a mess. I'll try to summarise.

 

Sky (will be channel 424) - Sky need to check the technical side of the channel before allowing it to go on their electronic programme guide (epg) at the intended channel 424. This may have happened or be imminent. The channel IS on satellite, just needs to be watched off epg via "other channels" for now.

 

Freesat (channel 252) is really just an epg - the signals are exactly the same as the free channels on Sky. So, until the Sky problem is resolved the channel can only be watched on Freesat by using 'add non-freesat channels', rather like adding ITV regions.

 

It has been stated that Freesat 252 will go live on September 12th - better late than never.

 

There is no date or channel yet for FS on Virgin Media. Given past performance it will probably show up without prior warning. I'm a VM subscriber so will be monitoring.

 

So, on to those relying on other services. BT and Talk Talk just relay the main Freeview channels. All will use channel 95.

 

The channel has launched on Freeview, but only in certain areas. If your TV or set top box is able to receive certain HD channels, over and above the basic BBC examples then you should be able to receive FS on 95. If not then you won't be getting the station at all. You need to be on a main rather than relay transmitter to get it.

 

You thought the SCB Regulations were twisted.....

 

So, to summarise, by September 12th you should be able to receive FS as follows, I'm sure it won't be as easy as that. :

 

Freeview (in certain areas with certain boxes/TVs), Talk Talk & BT - channel 95

 

Sky - 424

Freesat - 252

Virgin - lord knows.....

 

For those able to use the 'add channels' on Sky or Freesat the technical details are:

11426V, Symbol Rate: 27500, FEC: 5/6, DVB-S, SID:52556

 

Good luck!

 

(UPDATE: - looks like it's now up and running on Sky 424)

Edited by Rob McCaffery
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The channel has launched on Freeview, but only in certain areas. If your TV or set top box is able to receive certain HD channels, over and above the basic BBC examples then you should be able to receive FS on 95. If not then you won't be getting the station at all. You need to be on a main rather than relay transmitter to get it.

 

 

 

 

Freeview has FreeSports listed on two channels

273 for normal signal listed on the tv menu as "coming Soon".

95, which I think is HD, is now live and being shown

 

Anyone interested in Aussie Rugby League is in for a treat this weekend.

 

Would appreciate any info re any schedule dates and timings for speedway as the prog schedule for the HD tv I have got is awful and takes ages to list. Have noted next weeks timings from R & R.

Edited by A ORLOV
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Freeview has FreeSports listed on two channels

273 for normal signal listed on the tv menu as "coming Soon".

95, which I think is HD, is now live and being shown

 

 

All reports in media circles are that it will only be in SD, with HD reserved for subscribers to Premier Sports.

Free Sports' website makes no reference to channel 273 which has been marked elsewhere as 'Sports Channel Network', 'to be launched' for some time.

 

There's no apparent need for two Freeview channels but as always in these situations much can change before it finally settles down. We have to watch and wait.

 

Suggestions are that it's more than technical problems delaying a launch on Virgin Media and that a deal between FS and VM needs to be worked out. Goodness knows when that may happen given past history!

Edited by Rob McCaffery
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Yes the channel is now showing on my sky box. Swedish speedway on Wednesday & Polish speedway on Friday.

Same on channel 95 Freeview, so Swedish and Polish Speedway each week will be good.

Wed Swedish Speedway 9pm repeat of Tues meeting on Premier

Thurs " " repeat 3.30pm

Fri Polish Speedway 3.30pm

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Same on channel 95 Freeview, so Swedish and Polish Speedway each week will be good.

Wed Swedish Speedway 9pm repeat of Tues meeting on Premier

Thurs " " repeat 3.30pm

Fri Polish Speedway 3.30pm

I think you'll find the channel is supposed to be the same on all platforms.

 

What you see on terrestrial should be identical to satellite and cable, as with the great majority of other channels broadcasting on all three, bar some of the ads.

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So can I only get this if I have freeview hd? My TV is ancient and it's only non hd freeview

Im sure you know someone that could help you out with an upgrade 😉
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So can I only get this if I have freeview hd? My TV is ancient and it's only non hd freeview

Sadly although the channel is SD you do have to have Freeview HD to receive it, either built into the set or set-top box. Mind you, Argos are doing a Freeview HD box for just £35.

 

The reason why you need an HD TV or box to receive an SD channel like this is that it's being broadcast on a cheaper, modern system to the original Freeview that makes it more affordable for the smaller channels like Free Sports or Talking Pictures to use it.

 

Even then not all the transmitters carry these extra stations. If you're on a local relay they tend to have 'Freeview Light' with far fewer stations. It's a mess and expecting the general public to understand is like trying to explain guests and tacical rides to your mate down the pub :wink:

Edited by Rob McCaffery
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Free Sports is NOT a copy of Premier Sports. It shows a mixture of repeats from Premier, plus matches that there aren't room for on Premier and occasionally, but very occasionally before Premier, as with an ice hockey match on opening night. Premier showed a Cardiff match, FS a Nottingham match which was then repeated on Premier later on.

 

I would have thought it obvious that no TV channel would be stupid enough to take money off people for a channel while also showing exactly the same channel's contents for free on another. Later on they will be showing 15 ice hockey matches live per week. 12 will be on Premier and the other three will be on Free Sports - you hopefully get the idea of what's going on.

 

If you want to watch the speedway live then you'll need to pay for Premier. If you can wait for repeats then FS is an option. But I doubt you could be certain that all speedway matches will end up being repeated on Free Sports long term. The safest long-term bet is the Premier Sports subscription.

Edited by Rob McCaffery
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Free Sports is NOT a copy of Premier Sports. It shows a mixture of repeats from Premier, plus matches that there aren't room for on Premier and occasionally, but very occasionally before Premier, as with an ice hockey match on opening night. Premier showed a Cardiff match, FS a Nottingham match which was then repeated on Premier later on.

 

I would have thought it obvious that no TV channel would be stupid enough to take money off people for a channel while also showing exactly the same channel's contents for free on another. Later on they will be showing 15 ice hockey matches live per week. 12 will be on Premier and the other three will be on Free Sports - you hopefully get the idea of what's going on.

 

If you want to watch the speedway live then you'll need to pay for Premier. If you can wait for repeats then FS is an option. But I doubt you could be certain that all speedway matches will end up being repeated on Free Sports long term. The safest long-term bet is the Premier Sports subscription.

Swedish League will be shown live in 2018.
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Swedish League will be shown live in 2018.

I see that's in the content list. While it's good news for viewers it does suggest that Premier don't see it as being worth charging for.

 

Note it doesn't say all matches. It might just be a few.

To be honest it's hard enough to find online listings(*) for this channel, let alone firm proposals of what they're actually going to do.

 

(* I understand the Sky Guide now carries them, but not their own website!)

Edited by Rob McCaffery
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I see that's in the content list. While it's good news for viewers it does suggest that Premier don't see it as being worth charging for.

 

Note it doesn't say all matches. It might just be a few.

To be honest it's hard enough to find online listings(*) for this channel, let alone firm proposals of what they're actually going to do.

 

(* I understand the Sky Guide now carries them, but not their own website!)

The only decent listings I can find is on the tv menu itself, but they only show about one week ahead. What they do not say about the Speedway is what meetings they are showing.

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