Arqiva providing round the clock Community coverage

Community Channel broadcasts original programmes that showcase the work of new directors and community filmmakers, as well as the very best of terrestrial TV. This new version of Community Channel, branded Community HD', is the first channel to benefit from our up-scaling technology.

Our Director of Digital Platforms, Mike Finchen said:

Having just become an official Corporate Member of Media Trust, Arqiva is committed to helping advance the organisation's work in charitable communications. As part of this, we are running a trial to demonstrate how SD capacity can be up-scaled to HD. We have chosen to work with Community Channel's standard definition feed and have up-scaled it at the Arqiva Multiplexing Centre in Feltham to 1080i full resolution HD. Coverage today is around 68% of UK homes and will reach a maximum of 70% by June 2014.

Community Channel was one of the launch channels on Freeview, airing initially in the news genre and more recently in the entertainment genre. Already available in standard definition on Sky, freesat and Virgin Media and on Freeview channel 63 from 03:00-08:00hrs, the move provides Community Channel with the unique opportunity to broadcast round the clock in near HD on Arqiva's new T2 DTT multiplex, and take advantage of the growing number of Freeview HD homes.

Alex Kann, General Manager and Editor, Community Channel, said:

We are hugely excited about getting 24-hour coverage on Freeview HD; it's like all our Christmases have come at once.We are thrilled to be up-scaled to 24-hour HD and reach a more diverse audience in 19 million UK homes. With this increase, we hope to encourage more viewers to do little brilliant things that make a big difference to their communities through our new Do Something Brilliant campaign, funded by Big Lottery Fund.

Caroline Diehl, Chief Executive at Media Trust, said:

The contribution of Freeview capacity, in whatever hours or format, is the most fantastic offer to Media Trust and to charities and communities across the UK, who can now reach so many more audiences to tell their stories and attract volunteers and donors. Community Channel is used by so many charities from national ones to tiny community groups and they will all benefit enormously.

About Media Trust

Media Trust is a registered, not for profit charity funded by the Home Offices Active Community Unit and the Community Fund (formerly the National Lottery Charity Board).It creates communications solutions for charities and communities in alliance with the UK's top media and communications companies. It also provides skills through face-to-face and digital support, film production, training events and conferences.It also helps them to reach wider audiences through its own Community Channel, Community Newswire, online and mobile channels, media partners and expert volunteers.

About Community Channel

Community Channel is the only channel for communities, charities and local stories and is available in 25m homes across the UK on TV and online. It broadcasts entertaining stories, inspiring series and pioneering documentaries that encourage viewers to Do #SomethingBrilliant to change their world. Community Channel broadcasts on Freeview 63 and Freeview HD 109, Sky 539, Virgin 233, freesat 651 with catch-up through its website, YouTube, BT Vision and BBC iPlayer. Over a million people watch the channel each month. Community Channel is a Media Trust initiative, funded by Big Lottery Fund. www.communitychannel.org

Tags

Freeview

Community Channel

Media Trust

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