Channel 5 closedown off Astra 1E.
Channel 5 from the UK transmitted on Astra 1 for almost 5 years. The channel started on the UK terrestrial transmitters Easter 1997, and appeared on analogue satellite a few weeks later (probably around 23rd April 1997) Channel 5 was the first new nationwide terrestrial channel in the UK since Channel 4 started in November 1982.
C5 always suffered from limited coverage across the UK transmitter network. It was squeezed in amongst the existing channels by utilising tv channels 35 and 37, which had never been used before. The use of channel 37 meant that many thousands of video recorders had to be retuned up and down the country, which cost the company an awful lot of money. Very few of the small relay transmitters were ever equipped for Channel 5, and even today there are still some big holes in the terrestrial coverage.
With problems covering the UK using the transmitter network, C5 soon agreed carriage on Astra analogue, and was soft encoded using the Sky Videocrypt system. (The channel was free, but needed a Sky decoder to descramble the signal)
Over summer 2001, Channel 5 announced that they were closing the analogue signal off the Astra 1 satellites. The contract to carry the signals was up for renewal, and with limited viewers left, it has been decided that its not worth renewing it. C5 continues on Astra 2, as part of the Sky Digital package.
This screen grab has kindly been provided by Chris Vowles, and shows the caption superimposed on the Astra signals at the end of November.
1st January 2002 update: The Channel 5 transponder was switched off round about midnight on December 31st.
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