Solent TV was an independent
not-for-profit
A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization (NFPO) is a Legal Entity, legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives.
While not-for-profit organizations and Nonprofit organ ...
television channel broadcasting on the
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...
. It was transmitted from the
Rowridge transmitter on the Isle of Wight on
UHF
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 megahertz (MHz) and 3 gigahertz (GHz), also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one tenth of a meter ...
channel 54 (735.25
MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...
). It began broadcasting in October 2002 but ceased trading on 24 May 2007.
Launch onto Sky Digital platform
After a false start in March 2006, the channel launched on the Sky satellite platform (channel 219) on 15 January 2007, just a few months before it ceased broadcasting altogether.
To enable the transition to Sky, Solent TV worked with Sony Broadcast and Broadcast Networks to upgrade Solent TV's technical infrastructure to digital and HD technology. The new equipment included a new Sony XDCAM HD camera system, allowing Solent TV to create all new footage on this format; an HD-ready media server and media management system from Suitcase TV; a Miranda X-Station HD-ready playout system and the new Miranda Kaleido multiview system for playout. To link Solent TV to the Sky platform, a new Broadcast Networks H264 encoder system was used to provide the live link to
Globecast
Globecast is a French company providing services for the radio, television and media industry. These services are feeding various television and radio platforms: direct-broadcast satellite (DBS), digital terrestrial television (DTT), cable TV, IP ...
, who in turn provided the uplink to Sky.
Until the Sky launch, the channel's content was streamed live in
Windows Media format, as well as a collection of
video on demand
Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos, television shows and films Digital distribution, digitally on request. These multimedia are accessed without a traditional video playback device and a typica ...
files such as the channel's news programme 'Solent Tonight'. Shortly after the Sky launch the live web stream ceased, and although the on-demand service continued, it was via
Flash
Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Fictional aliases
* The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed:
** Flash (Jay Garrick)
** Barry Allen
** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...
video format.
Website
The website carried a news and sports service for the Isle of Wight.
The TV station's web site was by 2007 claimed by the station to be receiving over 350,000 unique visits every month. In a BBC report following the station's closure, it was revealed the station claimed it had 70,000 peak time viewers at any one time, although the company earlier in the year said it could not produce viewing figures as it was not on
BARB
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People
* Barb (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname
* Barb, a term used by fans of Nicki Minaj to refer to themselves
* The Barbs, a band
Places
* Barb, ...
.
Criticism
Some people felt that the station concentrated too heavily on its news output and lost sight of its finances.
Solent TV was positively reviewed by the
Guardian
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* Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another
* ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper
(The) Guardian(s) may also refer to:
Places
* Guardian, West Virginia, Unit ...
TV reviewer
Charlie Brooker
Charlton ‘Charlie’ Brooker (born 3 March 1971) is an English screenwriter, producer, presenter, author, cartoonist, and social critic. He first became known for creating and presenting satirical television shows that featured biting criticis ...
who said "Solent TV is strikingly confident. Brash, even. It's just like an ITV region circa 1989."
Financial issues
The company's publicly available bank details revealed it lost almost £1,000,000 in the 2006 financial year, more than double its losses in 2005.
Prior to the station's closure, Solent TV director Linda Ovnik stated the station "had not received as much as a 10p piece in public funding".
The parent companies of Solent TV were largely funded by public or charitable money and it was suggested at the time of the collapse that this money was used to support Solent TV.
After the station folded, Isle of Wight MP
Andrew Turner said he would raise the matter with ministers, and called on the Charity Commissioners to investigate Island Volunteers, the parent company of Solent TV.
In September 2007, several former Solent TV staff – who lost their jobs when the station went bust – won a tribunal hearing for £17,000 for breach of contract after their contracts were terminated without notice.
Shutdown
At the start of 2007, the station was losing several thousand pounds a month but had said that it was on course to reduce its losses dramatically since its move to Sky and the dramatic increase in revenue should have taken it into profit by 2008. A few months later station director Linda Ovnik told the Isle of Wight County Press that the station was "desperately seeking investors".
A statement on the Solent TV website on 24 May 2007 read:
:''Solent TV will stop broadcasting tonight Thursday 24 May 2007 as the company ceases trading because it’s insolvent.''
:''The channel, which started terrestrial transmissions on the Isle of Wight in October 2002, expanded across Europe on the Sky satellite network in January 2007. Financial problems four months later mean company directors have decided to shut down the TV station despite talks with potential investors. Solent TV’s sister organisations, Island Volunteers, Community Solutions and DV Media, are also ceasing to trade. All employees are being made redundant.''
Solent TV's final programme was a shorter-than-normal edition of the local news programme, Solent Tonight.
References
External links
Article on Digital Spy – "Solent TV plans March launch on Sky"
{{Local television channels in the United Kingdom
RSL television channels
Mass media of the Isle of Wight
Television channels and stations established in 2002
Defunct television channels in the United Kingdom
Television channels and stations disestablished in 2007
2002 establishments in England
The Solent