Conceptually One HD was the smartest of the FTA digital channels. With TV moving towards on-demand distribution modes, the future of analog, linear television broadcasting lies with programs that are best served when broadcast live (ie news and sports).

With the broadcast rights to many sports tied up with the other FTA channels and Fox Sports, it was always going to be a marathon and not a race. With recent changes in the Ten Board of Directors, it was expected that the abolishment of One HD may be at hand, or in the very least a re-focus. The re-focusing of One HD is upon us with todays news that One HD will be relaunched on 8 May with aspirations of a 2.5% share.

So, what can we expect from the revamped One HD? This ASX report is illuminating.

Monday to Friday will see One offer General Entertainment, with Premium sport offerings on the weekend. The General Entertainment shows will have a very male skew. It is interesting to see that both of Tens digital channels are taking on the most clearly defined of their competitors channels. Eleven seeking the same youth audience that Go! had been so successful in attaining, and now One HD is seeking the same hard-to-reach male audience as 7Mate.

One HD will offer the following programs:

  • Everest: Beyond The Limit
  • Ice Road Truckers
  • Extreme Fishing with Robson Green
  • An Idiot Abroad
  • Airline
  • Long Way Round
  • COPS
  • Terriers
  • Lights Out
  • Breakout Kings
  • Sons of Anarchy

The male skewing scripted series include a significant number of shows from the US fx cable channel, including the excellent Terriers and Sons of Anarchy, and the merely very good Lights Out. With any luck we may also see other fx shows like Archer and The League make an appearance. The League and Lights Out fit the One HD mix of sports and blokes quite nicely.

It’s disappointing to see Ten have dumped their sports strategy (if only because it seemed a bit smart), but what they’re replacing it with looks very promising indeed.