New sports channels arrive on Channelbox

30 April 2024

New sports channels arrive on Channelbox

Channelbox has added three new sports channels to the UK’s Freeview platform: BritBash, Padel Time and World of Free Sports. All are now available on Freeview 271.

BritBash TV is a channel dedicated to celebrating the best of British entertainment, culture, and creativity from royal ceremonies and sporting events to cultural festivals and award shows, BritBash TV brings you front-row seats to the biggest moments in British entertainment and beyond.

Padel Time is a channel exclusively focuses on the sport of padel, offering viewers a comprehensive look into this exciting and rapidly growing sport. The channel broadcasts live matches, highlights, and tournaments featuring top players from around the world, providing fans with an immersive viewing experience. In addition to match coverage, Padel Time also offers expert analysis, player interviews, and training tips to help viewers deepen their understanding and appreciation of the sport

World of Free Sports is a channel from Germany featuring all sports from extreme sports to unconventional competitions. Viewers can enjoy thrilling action from extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and mountain biking. The channel also features competitions and events in disciplines like parkour, freestyle skiing and rock climbing. With its dynamic programming, World of Free Sports offers an adrenaline-pumping experience for sports enthusiasts seeking excitement and adventure.

Three new channels are a great addition to the Channelbox sports lineup which includes sports channels including We are the Tottenham, Billiards, Mtrsprt1, Extreme, Unreel and many others.

“We are thrilled to welcome BritBash, Padel Time, and World of Free Sports to the ChannelBox family,” said Tanya Kronfli, Channelbox’s Head of Business Development. “These channels embody our commitment to delivering diverse, high-quality content to the UK audiences free of charge. With their unique offerings, we aim to enrich the viewing experience and cater to a wide range of interests.”

Channelbox is a multi-channel platform available on connected Freeview channel 271 and Channelbox mobile applications featuring over 70 TV channels. Channelbox is the only platform that supports FAST monetisation on Freeview UK.

Freeview is the UK’s largest TV service, used in 16 million homes (60% of TV households) and is the main platform in more than 10 million homes.

CNA debuts on Freeview UK

24 April 2024

CNA debuts on Freeview UK

Singapore-based news and current affairs channel CNA is now available in the United Kingdom on Freeview UK, the country’s largest TV platform.

The CNA free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel offers viewers not just the latest news from Asia, but also award-winning documentaries and current affairs programmes with an Asian perspective. Some of the content viewers can look forward to include:

Daily news updates from the Asian region on Asia Tonight and an in-depth look into developments from Greater China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula on East Asia Tonight
Acclaimed investigative documentary series uncovering hard truths from Asia Undercover Asia;
Four-part series The New Silk Road, recognised at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, examiningChina’s ambitious plan to create new trading routes; and
Historical travelogue, and Gold winner at the World Media Festivals, Mark of Empire, which looks into how four Southeast Asian empires – Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia, have made their mark on the world.

Mediacorp Editor-in-Chief Walter Fernandez said, “CNA has been reporting on global developments through an Asian lens since it was launched 25 years ago. With its extensive network of correspondents, CNA has evolved from a regional news brand to a global brand. Today, CNA is one of the most sought out sources of news as well as high-quality documentaries about Asia. In fact, in the past decade, CNA has won more than 500 international awards, largely for its engaging documentaries. We are pleased to introduce the CNA brand and our in-depth coverage of Asia to viewers across the United Kingdom, as part of our concerted efforts to grow our global audience.”

“I am delighted to introduce CNA to our audience,” expressed Tanya Kronfli, Channelbox‘s Head of Business Development. “Our mission extends beyond mere entertainment; it is about fostering a deeper understanding of Asia through authentic narratives and firsthand perspectives. Through this alliance, we aspire to enhance our viewers’ appreciation and comprehension of Asia’s complexities.”

France 24 launches on Freeview UK

22 February 2024

France 24 launches on Freeview UK

France 24, the renowned international news channel launched on Freeview UK channel 266. This strategic expansion allows Freeview users across the UK to access France 24’s diverse and comprehensive coverage of global news, culture, and current affairs in French, English, Spanish and Arabic languages.

Freeview viewers can now enjoy France 24’s high-quality journalism, bringing a unique perspective on international events directly to their screens. With this launch, France 24 aims to further strengthen its presence in the UK market and provide Freeview audiences with a broader spectrum of global news content.

“We are excited to bring France 24 to Freeview users in the UK, offering a valuable addition to the UK news landscape,” said Tanya Kronfli, managing director of Global Distribution Services and France 24 distribution partner, “This expansion reflects our commitment to delivering engaging and diverse news coverage to the UK audiences using cutting-edge technology”.

“We are delighted that France 24 has joined the Freeview line-up. To have all 4 language feeds available on a single channel, on such a widely available platform, is great news and we are confident that UK viewers will appreciate our offer, whether in English, French, Spanish or Arabic.” said Serge Schick, Director of International Development and Commercial Resources.

France 24 is known for its 24/7 news programming, featuring in-depth analysis, interviews, and reports from correspondents around the globe. The channel covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, culture, and sports, catering to a diverse and international audience.

The launch of France 24 on Freeview utilises the cutting-edge FAST SSAI & CDN, compatible with modern HbbTV-based TVs as well as older Freeview devices. This ensures maximum accessibility across the Freeview network.

AIB Welcomes Global Distribution Services as Newest Member

25 January 2024

AIB Welcomes Global Distribution Services as Newest Member

Innovative OTT provider’s membership benefits the AIB community

The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB), the industry consortium for global broadcasting, is delighted to announce the addition of Global Distribution Services (GDS) to its membership. GDS specialises in content aggregation, distribution and digital monetisation. It is renowned for its innovative approach to broadcasting and is the force behind FAST Freeview services including the multi-channel platform Channelbox on Freeview channel 271, a trailblazing brand in OTT distribution of international TV channels.

This new alliance represents a significant stride in the AIB’s ongoing efforts to embrace the evolving landscape of broadcast media. GDS’s expertise in OTT (over-the-top) technology and its successful implementation through FAST services on Freeview UK brings a fresh perspective to the AIB’s diverse and dynamic network.

Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive of the AIB, said about this partnership: “We are thrilled to welcome Global Distribution Services to the AIB family. Their remarkable work in OTT distribution is reshaping how international audiences access television content. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to foster innovation and excellence in global broadcasting. GDS’s entry into our network signifies a fusion of traditional broadcasting values with cutting-edge technology, setting new benchmarks for our industry.”

Tanya Kronfli (pictured), founder and Managing Director of GDS, said: “As a company at the forefront of innovative distribution services for national and international TV channels, belonging to and supporting key industry bodies is important for us. We are looking forward to working closely with the AIB and its members, helping to deliver innovative and cost-effective channel distribution, develop new audiences and new revenue streams for content owners.”

The pioneering approach in OTT distribution allows for a seamless and enriched viewing experience, offering a wide range of international TV channels across various genres on Freeview UK via Channelbox or directly via Freeview EPG. This integration with AIB underscores its commitment to embracing new technologies that enhance content accessibility and viewer engagement worldwide.

The partnership between AIB and GDS is a clear demonstration of the ever-growing need for collaboration and innovation in the rapidly evolving world of international broadcasting. It paves the way for further advancements and mutual growth, benefiting members and audiences alike.

OUTtv Proud heads to Freeview UK

24 January 2024

OUTtv Proud heads to Freeview UK

OUTtv, the leading LGBTQ+ television and streaming service, in partnership with Fuse Media, the leader in inclusive content, has secured a deal with Channelbox to distribute OUTtv Proud, its international FAST channel, in the UK via Freeview.

Following the recent deal with Netgem in 2023 which saw OUTtv Proud launch in the UK and Ireland, OUTtv is further expanding the reach of its FAST channel which features over 400 hours of content including OUTtv originals Call Me Mother, Hot Haus, and For The Love of DILFs. The service is available on Freeview UK, with audiences able to watch brand-new series via channel 271.

Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv, said: “The UK is a primary market for us for both SVOD and FAST channel streaming and we had significant growth in 2023, but still have much more room to grow. This is why we are so excited about partnering with Channelbox to form part of Freeview’s extensive channel offer. They are an important leader in the UK FAST space and this launch enables us to extend our offering to reach more people who have yet to discover our diverse, fun and authentic LGBTQ+ programming made for and by the queer community.”

“OUTtv Proud has quickly become a destination for viewers around the world since its launch last year because of its truly robust offering of quality storytelling,” said Patrick Courtney, Head of Streaming & Business Development. “We’re happy that even more of the UK’s LGBTQ+ viewers and their allies will be able to access and enjoy OUTtv Proud on Freeview UK.”

Tanya Kronfli, Head of Content and Business Development for Channelbox, said “We are thrilled to launch the first LGBTQ channel on Freeview UK. OUTtv Proud is a fantastic addition to the diverse Channelbox lineup”

The OUTtv Proud channel, created by OUTtv and Fuse Media, features LGBTQ+-targeted original programming as well as library content from OUTtv’s original series, documentaries, films and specials.