Crown Castle frees new Freeview slot

As Crown Castle prepares to announce the winner of its spare channel slot on the digital terrestrial platform, the Freeview co-owner is said to be ready to invite bids for another new channel.

According to Broadcast magazine, Crown Castle has created a new channel slot on digital terrestrial multiplex C, one of two commercial multiplexes it owns. The channel could launch in the second-half of 2005.

ITV and Channel 4 are battling it out to win the 18-hours-a-day channel slot that is currently up for grabs. Each is said to have submitted bids to Crown Castle of more than £5m.

If ITV wins the contest, it is reportedly set to begin broadcasting its Men & Motors channel from April 1. Over time, the channel could then be modified to become ITV4.

The additional 18-hours-a-day channel will give companies that also bid in the current contest another chance to secure a valuable slot on the fast-growing platform. Unsuccessful bidders are said to include Five, Turner, Top-Up TV, Disney, NBC Universal and Sit-Up TV.

Meanwhile, ITV is reportedly set to become the first commercial broadcaster to launch interactive advertisements on the Freeview platform. According to New Media Age, ITV is understood to be in talks with interactive services specialist Press Red to determine how advertisers can add interactive elements to their commercials.

Lovelacemedia  |  04.03.2005

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