Channel 4 has decided to pull its HD flagship channel and catch-up service All4 from Freesat, because the subscription-free satellite TV platform's fees are too expensive. The HD channel along with the on-demand player are due to leave Freesat this Thursday, the 22nd of February; until then the channel will be broadcast as normal and streams will be available. After then, the only way to watch any Channel 4 HD content on your Freesat hardware will be to watch what you've recorded. The move is linked to a raise in the fees Freesat charges broadcasters, which a Channel 4 spokesperson described as "significant." Public services broadcasters like Channel 4 are obligated to provide standard definition versions of all their channels. HD versions and catch-up services require the payment of fees to platforms like Freesat, which has a customer base of over 2 million. As Channel 4's broadcast and catch-up channels derive income solely from advertising, it's not as easy for it to provide its services everywhere; the BBC iPlayer mobile apps, for example, worked with Google Chromecast from day one of the launch, whereas it took a while longer for All4 to make that leap. Channel 4 ultimately decided that the new fees Freesat were asking for were onerous. "We're disappointed Freesat is changing its charging structure, leading to a very significant cost increase for Channel 4, which ultimately takes funding away from our content investment budget," the Channel 4 spokeperson said. "To reduce the overall burden of our Freesat costs and make internal savings we have regrettably given notice to withdraw All 4 and C4 HD while we consider our long term relationship with Freesat." Freesat says that customers will need to manually reset any recordings in the TV guide ahead of the date, as its hardware won't automatically pick up the same content from the SD channel. Freesat said in a statement: "We remain committed to bringing Freesat customers the very best content and hope to see the channels return soon."

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