4Music appeared free-to-air on satellite today

4Music has been spotted testing free-to-air on satellite today.
The channel is one of the last major Freeview channels that is not available as a free-to-air channel on satellite and its conversion into a free-to-air service is long awaited by music lovers.

Its sister channels, including The Box, went free-to-air on satellite three and half years ago, it is believed broadcast rights restrictions have affected 4Music’s ability to go free-to-air, with the channel also specialising in entertainment programming during the evenings.

4Music, part of the Box Plus Network, a joint venture between Channel 4 and Bauer Media.

4Music was available free-to-air on:

Transponder 31
Frequency: 12.304 Horizontal
SR: 27500
FEC: 5/6
Beam: UK Spotbeam

4Music is also available on a Channel 4 transponder:

Transponder 41
Frequency: 10.714 Horizontal
SR: 22000
FEC: 5/6
Beam: UK Spotbeam

Both are currently encrypted, though it seems likely that the channel may abandon encryption soon.