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Freeview - What Remains To Be Done

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Introduction

It is my opinion that in its current state, the Freeview system is a useful addition to the analogue terrestrial television service, but as yet nowhere near being able to act as its replacement. Freeview is best regarded in computer software terms as just starting its beta testing, when flaws both significant and trivial are beginning to be discovered.

This web page lists some of the improvements which I consider to be required. This is however an extremely personal wishlist, containing a number of highly contentious points about which many readers may disagree. Please consider it to be a rant.

The List

• OfCom to become far more active in enforcing technical and programming standards.

• Most Freeview boxes suffer from serious reliability problems, notably frequent lockups. The causes are complex: poor manufacturers' designs and software coupled with a lack of testing, broadcasters keen to implement technical tricks and not always complying with standards, and perhaps a poor choice of MHEG as the digital text standard. In any case, the current high rate of problems is not acceptable. A system of official software testing and certification for Freeview boxes should be introduced.

• Many manufacturers cease to provide software updates for their Freeview boxes. As a partial solution, all manufacturers should lodge the source code of their software with OfCom under an escrow arrangement, whereby it will be released to any interested parties if the manufacturer ceases trading or ceases support for their product.

• A limit on the number of channels permitted per multiplex to be introduced, so as to ensure an acceptable minimum technical quality level. This may require the removal of the subscription channels.

• All on-screen channel logos (DOG's - Digital Overlay Graphics) to be eradicated.

• All other on-screen overlays such as "Press Red" to be eradicated.

• All premium-rate phone call "competitions", on any form of media, to be outlawed.

• All channels, including the so-called "interactive" channels, to have published schedules as a condition of them being carried on the system.

• All channels, including the BBC's "News Multiscreens" and the so-called "interactive" channels, to be directly accessible by logical channel number and by no other means. This is simpler, faster, more reliable and essential for pre-programmed recording. The use of channel changing within text systems to be eradicated.

• A complete separation of 4:3 aspect ratio channels and 16:9 aspect ratio channels. No other aspect ratios to be permitted. Ideally I would prefer only 4:3, but that is unrealistic until the current 16:9 fashion fades.

• All on-air downloads to be made constantly available (regardless if this requires reducing the number of channels on the system). All future Freeview boxes to be capable of having their software updated via a computer with an Internet connection, and manufacturers to make downloads available on their web sites as a condition of being allowed to sell boxes.

• All quarter-screen channels to be made full size, with full resolution.

• All digital text systems to use exactly the same meanings for the coloured buttons, exactly the same method for selecting pages and sub-pages, similar page layouts, and similar organisations of content sections.

• BBCi content to be brought up to at least the same as Ceefax's.

• BBCi content to be updated strictly in-line with Ceefax's (at present it often lags behind considerably).

• The speed and reliability of digital text systems to be brought up to the same standards as those of analogue text. This may require the abandonment of MHEG in favour of the alternative MHP digital text system used in many European mainland countries. Many viewers prefer the simple, reliable and consistent traditional analogue text control system to digital text's pseudo web browser interface. MHEG is too complicated for manufacturers, broadcasters and viewers, offering irrelevant and undesirable gimmick features while neglecting fundamental simplicity and reliability.

• Standards of the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) data supplied by broadcasters to be improved to an acceptable level.

• The transmission of control information for recording devices (the digital equivalent of PDC - programme delivery codes) to be made reliable, even when programme schedules are not adhered to.

• A new text channel to be introduced which lists the latest Freeview system changes (new channels, recently removed channels, etc). This need only consist of a very small number of text pages, possibly just one page.

• Broadcasters' diligence regarding the transmission of subtitles to be brought up to at least the standards on analogue television.

• As far as possible, sporting events to have an audio option without commentary.

• For as long as Freeview bandwidth is limited, time delayed (+1) channels should not be permitted, nor should channels showing preview loops or static captions transmitted as television pictures. Static captions transmitted as text are not a problem as they utilise very little bandwidth, but they should contain useful information such as the channel's schedule.

• Abandonment of the plans to cease analogue terrestrial television transmissions until Freeview's most urgent problems have been solved. If, as I suspect, some of the problems cannot be solved, then analogue transmissions should continue indefinitely.

• Abandonment of HD (High Definition) experiments, at least until the more urgent problems with Freeview have been solved.

• Freeview boxes to be designed so as to better cope with duplicate signals from distant transmitters during periods of high pressure, which currently causes duplicate channels to appear in the 800+ range. If tranmsitter power levels are increased after analogue switch-off, as is rumoured, this will become a very serious problem.

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Most recently modified 1-Sep-07