4+ went on air on Tuesday. But only in the living rooms of UPC Cablecom customers. The cable network operator spoils not only digital but also analog TV subscribers with blockbusters ("Achtung, fertig, Charlie!"), the usual series ("How I Met Your Mother") and reruns of 3+ in-house productions ("Bauer, ledig, sucht..."). To make room, Cablecom dropped SWR, another third party public broadcaster, from its analog offering. Perhaps a friendly but firm nudge to get SWR's older target group to come to terms with the separation from the analog network. Parting hurts, but digital TV is calling. This is because the channel is "already included in the basic "Mini" package - and in the best HD quality", according to the Support page from UPC Cablecom. Chance writes the best stories - and they are broadcast in HD.

Swisscom TV customers will not be able to enjoy 4+ for the time being. The company is making no secret of this and yesterday published the unedited SDA report via Bluewin.ch announcing the imminent birth of the entertainment channel. "4+ can only be received via UPC Cablecom", it says. That almost sounds like the all-clear. (hae)