29 November 2005
Channel 4 has won the auction for the much sought-after new Freeview slot on digital TV.
The broadcaster is said to have paid up to £12 million for the station, which will constitute its fifth channel on the digital Freeview platform.
Initially it is expected that the slot will be used to air More4+1 a time-shifted version of drama and documentary channel More4. A fresh offering, though, is expected sometime in 2006.
Andy Duncan, chief executive of Channel 4, said: "Capacity on Freeview is a scarce commodity and this deal allows us to accommodate our full current line-up of free channels on the platform and to keep our options open for further channel launches in the future.
"We're very confident that this investment will pay off with an increasingly strong showing for our channels in the digital TV homes."
Channel 4's cause was aided by Five's withdrawal from the bidding, opting instead to focus in its investment on Top-Up TV as an entry into the Freeview market.
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