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In 1998 digital terrestrial television (DTT) started in the UK. It was called ONdigital. Six multiplexes were set up and auctioned off to Carlton television, Granada plc and BSKYB. The channel line up consisted of 18 channels and looked pretty impressive. In 2000 ONdigital launched a internet service called ONnet and also in the same year they set up a pay-per-view service called ONrequest.
But like they say, what comes up must come down. Even thou ONdigital looked impressive they were in constant battle with their rival SKY and with sky offering loads of channels in good quality compared with ONdigital broadcasting a selection of channels with sometimes poor quality for the same money ONdigital was loosing money fast.
In desperation ONdigital turned to ITV. In April 2000 ITV was in control they had a massive rebranding calling it ITV digital. They also splashed out to buy the rights to air the football league and launched its first sport channel ITV sport channel. Ridiculously ITV wanted to rebrand it so much that they sent stickers out to put over the ONdigital logo. The biggest hit of ITV digital was the advertising campaign with a knitted monkey voiced by Ben miller. However the phrase, what comes up, must come down has struck again. ITV digital was always trying to compete with sky bringing in more channels. But with the ITV sports channel not a success and the channels were poor picture and sound quality and the cost, ITV digital eventually became bankrupt. (The channel listings of ITV digital are shown below)
free channels
bbc one
bbc two
itv1
channel 4
s4c
itv2
utv 2
s2
channel 5
bbc choice
bbc news 24
bbc parliament
bbc knowledge
s4c2
tele g
shop!
first ONdigital
tv travel shop
itn
primary channels (6 for £10) (all for £12)
pay-per-view services
itv select 1
itv select 2
itv select 3
itv select 4
itv select 5
adults only 1
adults only 2
adults only 3
television x
the adult channel
itv sport select
itv sport plus
on sport 1
text channels
teletext
bbc text
four text
ntl
itv text+
on digital info channel
two way tv
two way tv 2
on offer
itv select info channel
itv digital info channel
sky one
cartoon network
ONsport 2
Carlton cinema
britsh eurosport
granada plus
granada breeze
men and motors
uk gold
mtv
carlton kids
carlton world
carlton food network
carlton select
discovery channel
discovery kids and wing
play uk
uk style
uk horizons
nickelodeon
paramount comedy
e4
simply money
wellbeing
On the 24th of May ITV digital eventually shut down. For a while it seemed that we had all seen the last of dtt. But then the multiplexes we re-advertised and the BBC was awarded multiplex b and crown castle multiplex c and d. in October they that year they began test runs for this new service freeview. Then finally at 06:00 on the 30th October it launched. Now freeview is still going strong and has become more and more popular. That popular that has helped more households switch to digital and had a part in creating the digital switchover where every house by 2012 will only receive digital.
