Resources For TV Channel Developers

The Manhattan Aero 4K Streamer comes with support for Freely and lots of other on-demand TV services with a suitable subscription.

MANHATTAN TV

For almost 80 years, TV programs have been transmitted over the airwaves. First the signals were in the analog VHF band before moving over to UHF for higher definition services and color TV. Then came the global switchover to DTV or digital terrestrial television, which brought us HD services and much more choice. Currently, in the U.K. there are more than 100 TV channels delivered over the air. If you are in sight of a TV transmitter or satellite, you can receive a range of free channels using the Freeview platform.

Now broadcasters and governments would like us to switch to IPTV, an internet-based system where we get stream our TV programs over the internet in the same way that many of us currently stream content from services like Netflix, Paramount and Apple TV. The pressure is coming from governments and the telecom industry as the DTV broadcasts use the UHF bands between 470 and 694MHz. In broadcasting terms, that’s the equivalent of beachfront property. UHF waves can travel a long way and penetrate concrete buildings. Freeing up those frequencies would turn them into some of the most valuable wireless spectra which 5G and 6G mobile phone operators would love to get their hands on.

Live terrestrial broadcasting transmitters also use a lot of energy and they are expensive to maintain. Terrestrial TV is already decreasing in popularity as more of us switch to streaming our TV programs. The British Government is already talking of switching off the Freeview TV broadcasting system and replacing it with IPTV services like Freely, an internet-based service that’s free to use and offers a wide range of free-to-air channels. While not everyone has access to an internet connection capable of streaming TV, the rollout of high-speed broadband is changing things fast, even in rural areas.