Freeview's new channels Program Guides

[dtv4me]

It's a shame that the new channels on Freeview i.e. Stratos and TVNZ6 do not advertise their program schedules in daily newspapers etc. The only place you can see what's on is on their web sites.

For Freeview to increase its public uptake they need to advertise their Program Schedule. This can have two affects. One, people read the program listings and realise what great programmes they're missing and so subscribe to Freeview or secondly, they see what's on and decide it's not worth the expense. I wonder which decision people would make? I guess that all depends on what the new channels offer.

With any new product unless it's advertised people won't buy it unless they see it's worth spending the money on.

I understand that cost is the major reason the channel listings aren't in the daily papers. If the programs are good won't people buy Freeview to watch them? They need to know what's on first - not everyone has access to or the wants to look up the web sites to see what's on but they will look in the daily newspapers.

I think advertising what's on would improve Freeview's public uptake making the expense worthwhile.

[openmedia]

The listings are present in TV Guide, but it appears the papers aren't willing to provide the space for minor channels like TVNZ6 and Stratos.

In the case of Stratos they don't charge papers for their listings, but I'm not sure about TVNZ6. I wouldn't be suprised if TVNZ6 was included as part of the publishing agreement for TV One and TV 2.

[dtv4me]

How many people subscribe to TV Guide to see what's on the new channels?

I'm surprised that newspapers aren't willing to provide space if the channels pay for that space. A basic listing is all that's required which shouldn't cost much. A weekly listing would suffice to reduce costs. e.g. in The Dominion Post's Tuesday TV Guide. It is to promote the channels and this can not be without some cost but with a return of increased Freeview viewer numbers.

[openmedia]

How many people subscribe to TV Guide to see what's on the new channels?

I'm surprised that newspapers aren't willing to provide space if the channels pay for that space. A basic listing is all that's required which shouldn't cost much. A weekly listing would suffice to reduce costs. e.g. in The Dominion Post's Tuesday TV Guide. It is to promote the channels and this can not be without some cost but with a return of increased Freeview viewer numbers.

The channels don't pay for the space. At present the papers have to play the channels for the program information.

[dtv4me]

The channels don't pay for the space. At present the papers have to play the channels for the program information.

If the papers have to pay the channels for the program information I'm surprised the new channels don't give it to the papers to publish for free - at least for a while. The new channels get their program listings published for free which helps promote Freeview. If the newspapers won't publish the free listings Freeview could even pay something towards the cost of having them published and reap the benefit of more people taking up Freeview.