Channel 7 Launching new channel – Could HD be coming?

[contextly_sidebar id=”8BT2AehoYpCbVuO9qPRqNiPzjQPATm5q”]
Without fanfare a new TV channel is now available on your Free-to-air TV – in Sydney anyway.  Right now it’s just a slide with no audio, but very soon it could be anything from a new niche genre channel to a HD simulcast of the main Channel 7 signal.

Appearing on sets as Channel 76, it’s taking up a fair bit of the network’s spectrum for a slide (1.4mbps), EFTM can confirm the new channel is currently being broadcast in MPEG-4 which leads us to speculate that the network is about to announce and launch a simulcast of their main channel in HD as Channel 9 did less than one month ago.

Using their available spectrum, they could easily launch a whole new channel in MPEG-4 with new content such as 9Life or SBS Food Network, the difference being that would be available only to those with compatible MPEG-4 sets, which as we’ve seen from the 9HD experience is problematic for many.

The most likely scenario is that 7 is doing broadcast “head-end” tests for MPEG-4 broadcasts, in readiness for a HD Channel launch.

I would speculate that if they announce a HD Simulcast, 7mate will drop back to SD and at the same time they could then launch a new niche content channel in MPEG2 – available to all Australian TVs, with the 7HD channel available only to newer MPEG-4 compatible channels.

A Channel 7 spokesperson confirmed to EFTM they were aware of the new channel broadcast, but at this time no formal announcement had been made regarding new or HD channel launches.

 

Recent Posts

  • Tech

Fujifilm Australia announces the new Fujifilm X-T30 III, a compact, mirrorless digital camera for everyone

Fujifilm Australia has announced the launch of the Fujifilm X-T30 III, their latest X-series compact…

2 days ago
  • Tech

Amazon’s smart glasses may be the first of their kind with an actual purpose

Amazon is a company delivering billions and billions of packages every single day, so they…

2 days ago
  • Lifestyle

Android vs Apple – putting July’s CaseSafe Luggage to the tracking test

When I first reviewed the July luggage almost seven years ago when the company was…

2 days ago
  • Tech

The Belkin UltraCharge 2-in-1 Foldable is an outstanding desk buddy you can take with you when you travel!

Look I know this product isn't designed specifically for travel, Belkin has products like that…

2 days ago
  • Tech

Samsung Galaxy XR announced running Android XR platform

At their Galaxy Unpacked ‘World’s Wide Open’ event yesterday, Samsung and Google unveiled the first…

3 days ago
  • Tech

Urgent calls to replace or update older Samsung phones amid Triple Zero call concerns

The Telco industry has been razor focussed on the Triple Zero system in recent weeks…

3 days ago