News channels in international hotels

[Steve in Pudsey]

Didn't one of the transmitters that was used by the Netherlands get an analogue upgrade not long before DSO to ensure the service to the Netherlands continued? I was to say Dover but it sounds wrong.

[RR]

Please correct me if I am wrong but I thought the vast majority of CNN's impressive profitability was down to subscription payments through platforms like Sky and Virgin.

If that is the case, I'm surprised they're taking this approach unless they have some ultra-reliable market research telling them that people want to subscribe direct.

None of us know exactly what the position was with Virgin Media dropping them, but on satellite they are free to air, so I can't believe they get any money from the Sky subscription.

[Charles]

Nice and interesting topic [mention]sigma421[/mention] I tip my hat to you!

I've often wondering how quite a high number of hotels in Amsterdam and also France carry BBC 1 and BBC2 but not BBC NC. Instead they take BBC World News and no CNN. I therefore wonder how it is possible for them to gain access to BBC 1 and 2 if outside of the UK. I mean, I know how to do it from a personal perspective wherever I am, but it would have to involve a supplier surely?

Possibly a historical thing, BBC1 and BBC2 have long been available on cable systems in the Netherlands

Well I did not know that. I'm wondering how hotels in France managed to get them.

I've never come across BBC 1 or BBC 2 in France. BBC World News seems to be available pretty much everywhere in Europe, as well as Sky News. I feel like I don't find CNN as easily in Europe as I used to unless if I'm staying at an American hotel.

I do also love running into news while on airplanes. Live news is getting to be harder to find as more airlines have switched from satellite to on-demand based entertainment. I do remember Lufthansa for a while used to have an edition of Euronews from the same day available on demand. I don't know if they still do that – it's been years since I've flown Lufthansa longhaul.

[Newsroom]

Possibly a historical thing, BBC1 and BBC2 have long been available on cable systems in the Netherlands

Well I did not know that. I'm wondering how hotels in France managed to get them.

I've never come across BBC 1 or BBC 2 in France. BBC World News seems to be available pretty much everywhere in Europe, as well as Sky News. I feel like I don't find CNN as easily in Europe as I used to unless if I'm staying at an American hotel.

I do also love running into news while on airplanes. Live news is getting to be harder to find as more airlines have switched from satellite to on-demand based entertainment. I do remember Lufthansa for a while used to have an edition of Euronews from the same day available on demand. I don't know if they still do that – it's been years since I've flown Lufthansa longhaul.

Hoxton hotel and soho house are just two.

Agreed about disappearing of LIVE news on flights. Time used to literally fly by on long flights with CNN or BBC World being available.

[thegeek]

I'm not sure I've ever had the luxury of live TV on a flight. A 12-hour old recording of BBC World News with a dodgy frontcap and a weird gradient over the ticker/flipper, on the other hand...

In the mid-2000s, World News would do a 15 minute programme especially for the Heathrow Express, which I believe would be recorded to tape and couriered down to Paddington.

[Newsroom]

I'm not sure I've ever had the luxury of live TV on a flight. A 12-hour old recording of BBC World News with a dodgy frontcap and a weird gradient over the ticker/flipper, on the other hand...

In the mid-2000s, World News would do a 15 minute programme especially for the Heathrow Express, which I believe would be recorded to tape and couriered down to Paddington.

EK 777's had it. Delta, Jet Blue, AA all had it. When Virgin Atlantic launched their 787-9 they also carried it - but it was switched off within 6 months with no explanation.

[Markymark]

Didn't one of the transmitters that was used by the Netherlands get an analogue upgrade not long before DSO to ensure the service to the Netherlands continued? I was to say Dover but it sounds wrong.

BBC 1 and 2 Dover. Analogue transmitters were replaced in 2001, primarily to retain the integrity of the signal across the North Sea for the Benelux Rx stations. The transmitters were dual (analogue and DVB-T) standard. They were 'lifted and shifted' in 2013 I think to Emley to be used for COM 7/8.

All a bit OTT really, seeing as in 2003, BBC became available FTA on Astra 28.2, and those feeds were used (and continue to to this day)

[Steve in Pudsey]

Thanks, I thought I'd heard Dover (likely from your good self) but Tacolneston (or the Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft relays) look like a shorter sea path.

[Charles]

I'm not sure I've ever had the luxury of live TV on a flight. A 12-hour old recording of BBC World News with a dodgy frontcap and a weird gradient over the ticker/flipper, on the other hand...

In the mid-2000s, World News would do a 15 minute programme especially for the Heathrow Express, which I believe would be recorded to tape and couriered down to Paddington.

EK 777's had it. Delta, Jet Blue, AA all had it. When Virgin Atlantic launched their 787-9 they also carried it - but it was switched off within 6 months with no explanation.

Interesting, I was unaware that some airlines had it on widebody aircraft. United and JetBlue have DirecTV with 100+ channels, though as far as news goes, you won't find any of the international news channels – just the crummy domestic ones. DirecTV also only works in the continental U.S. Southwest has live TV available via personal device entertainment wifi, though the selection of channels is much smaller, and the signal much more spotty. I think American might have something similar. It seems like personal device streaming or the Panasonic seatback TVs (which are basically just tablets connected to an onboard server) are becoming a lot more common than the older live TV options.

I've never come across seatback TVs on shorthaul flights in Europe. I don't think any European airline does that other than maybe Turkish? I always appreciate the complimentary newspaper selection on Air France at least.

News and aviation....I could talk for hours....

[Newsroom]

I'm not sure I've ever had the luxury of live TV on a flight. A 12-hour old recording of BBC World News with a dodgy frontcap and a weird gradient over the ticker/flipper, on the other hand...

In the mid-2000s, World News would do a 15 minute programme especially for the Heathrow Express, which I believe would be recorded to tape and couriered down to Paddington.

EK 777's had it. Delta, Jet Blue, AA all had it. When Virgin Atlantic launched their 787-9 they also carried it - but it was switched off within 6 months with no explanation.

Interesting, I was unaware that some airlines had it on widebody aircraft. United and JetBlue have DirecTV with 100+ channels, though as far as news goes, you won't find any of the international news channels – just the crummy domestic ones. DirecTV also only works in the continental U.S. Southwest has live TV available via personal device entertainment wifi, though the selection of channels is much smaller, and the signal much more spotty. I think American might have something similar. It seems like personal device streaming or the Panasonic seatback TVs (which are basically just tablets connected to an onboard server) are becoming a lot more common than the older live TV options.

I've never come across seatback TVs on shorthaul flights in Europe. I don't think any European airline does that other than maybe Turkish? I always appreciate the complimentary newspaper selection on Air France at least.

News and aviation....I could talk for hours....

Ha! Airlines and News - we must be twins. Virgin Atlantic’s IFE is Panasonic and you are correct - it was streamed over internet, the only rule was that as soon as we were in US airspace it had to be turned off. It only offered news and a couple of sports channels.

On Emirates, you could choose a flight that had live tv by looking for the icon on the booking screen. I once flew from New York to San Paola on American and watched a presidential debate, totally made the trip!

A quick google and airlines carrying BBC World News is quite vast, and includes British Airways I was surprised to see.

[Markymark]

Thanks, I thought I'd heard Dover (likely from your good self) but Tacolneston (or the Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft relays) look like a shorter sea path.

I think the main Rx station was near Zeebrugge, more or less due east from Dover. From there the signals were distributed by microwave and cable into the Netherlands (as well as around Belgium and Luxembourg)

I do recall talking to the owner of an electronics shop in Amsterdam early 90s. He told me he used to directly receive BBC 1 405 lines from Tacolneston using an aerial on his roof. He'd found the UK's continued use of 405 into the 80s rather quaint !

[mglorie]

Thanks, I thought I'd heard Dover (likely from your good self) but Tacolneston (or the Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft relays) look like a shorter sea path.

I think the main Rx station was near Zeebrugge, more or less due east from Dover. From there the signals were distributed by microwave and cable into the Netherlands (as well as around Belgium and Luxembourg)

I do recall talking to the owner of an electronics shop in Amsterdam early 90s. He told me he used to directly receive BBC 1 405 lines from Tacolneston using an aerial on his roof. He'd found the UK's continued use of 405 into the 80s rather quaint !

Hello, first post here!
As of today, Dutchies get the BBC London feed (except for me, since I only get BBC One HD at home...). BBC Two is also available, BBC Three/Four are usually in premium packages. BBC World News and BBC First (with NL subtitles) are generally available in ordinary cable packages.
Side note: the commercial European BBC channels are legally Dutch channels

[Charles]

I was in the Netherlands last week and thought of this thread. I had access to BBC 1, 2, 4, and World. This slate popped up during regional opt-outs.



No Sky News or CNNI, though curiously, the hotel got GB News. It also had the major German, Italian, and Swiss broadcasters, none of the main French ones but TV5MONDE and France 24 in English and French, and Euronews in Russian only.

[Newsroom]

I was in the Netherlands last week and thought of this thread. I had access to BBC 1, 2, 4, and World. This slate popped up during regional opt-outs.



No Sky News or CNNI, though curiously, the hotel got GB News. It also had the major German, Italian, and Swiss broadcasters, none of the main French ones but TV5MONDE and France 24 in English and French, and Euronews in Russian only.

The Hoxton to be precise! One of my fave hotel brands, conceived down the road from me in Shoreditch.

[Charles]

The Hoxton to be precise! One of my fave hotel brands, conceived down the road from me in Shoreditch.

Good guess! But I was actually at the Ink Hotel in Amsterdam. Not quite as posh, and no canal view, but I would recommend.