Channel 5 Transmission Discussion/Updates

[James Martin]

So after Channel 5 spun me the press release they'd sent to BTTB, not answering my concerns that there was no way to watch the show in HD linearly, I think I touched a nerve when I suggested the response had been done by AI.

Please note we do not use AI, all our emails are read and answered by a human being.

I feel that our response clearly covered 5’s plans for Home and Away.

We will not enter in to anymore correspondence on this matter.

Regards

They really don't give a s**t!

[Red Ranger 1]

Read by a human being who then selects the most appropriate pre-prepared response!

[CaptainHulk]

8 hours ago, James Martin said:

So after Channel 5 spun me the press release they'd sent to BTTB, not answering my concerns that there was no way to watch the show in HD linearly, I think I touched a nerve when I suggested the response had been done by AI.

Please note we do not use AI, all our emails are read and answered by a human being.

I feel that our response clearly covered 5’s plans for Home and Away.

We will not enter in to anymore correspondence on this matter.

Regards

They really don't give a s**t!

Why am I not surprised?

[c120701]

I wonder if we’ll take an extended/extra break at some point, we’re headed into the 2026 season two weeks ahead of where we reached 2025, and we’re actually 3 weeks closer to Australian transmissions (5 weeks) than we were last year (8 weeks).

With Australia’s erratic scheduling we could get even closer at some points.

Ah, just spotted they’re airing 6 a week so far this year, so that’ll help a bit.

5 minutes ago, c120701 said:

I wonder if we’ll take an extended/extra break at some point, we’re headed into the 2026 season two weeks ahead of where we reached 2025, and we’re actually 3 weeks closer to Australian transmissions (5 weeks) than we were last year (8 weeks).

With Australia’s erratic scheduling we could get even closer at some points.

Edit: Ah, just spotted they’re airing 6 a week so far this year, so that’ll help a bit.

 

[James Martin]

It's worth noting that on Virgin, the last 3 episodes of 2025 are listed as Series 38, Episode 228 Parts 1, 2 & 3.  They're airing as single episodes on Tuesday - Thursday on 5 Star and dropping at 6am as normal, but it suggests they work as one 90 minute episode.

Out of interest, now that 5 Star's 6:30pm screening is the "official" showing, have RTÉ been allowed to catch up and now effectively transmit the blocks in the right order?

Edit: Yes they have!  Ireland will get the season finale on Friday evening, so they're now a day behind 5* instead of being a day behind 5, effectively at the "6pm" pace.

Edited February 16 by James Martin

[Light of the Bay]

Hi guys, I was having a nosey on My5 the other day and I note that for current episodes they have them showing under Season 25? I take it they have to count it from 2001 when they took over UK broadcasts? 
 

Not sure if anyone on here has any insider knowledge or is technically minded (I am not ) but hypothetically, how easy would it actually be for TPTB to upload classic episodes onto My5? I assume they have an archive of everything from 2001 onwards? Would it be likely they’re on tape or have been digitally uploaded somehow? 

[James Martin]

The public service broadcasters all jointly went tapeless in around 2013/2014 in the UK.  It may have even been a European Broadcasting Union thing.

There's various paperwork involved.  It's not just as simple as uploading the episode to the streaming service and also the question of video on demand rights - UKTV have had to take the Eldorado repeats off streaming after a year for example.  Older BBC shows can only be on iPlayer for a year after a linear transmission - hence you'll see a show about to expire get a random repeat on BBC Two in the dead of night.

I would say any putting classic episodes on streaming would require direct negotiation with Seven, regardless of whether it was on C5 or ITV who aired it originally.

Incidentally on Virgin it's classed, correctly, as Series 39.