Deal or No Deal is one of Channel 4's most popular shows
Channel 4 has become the first of the five terrestrial television channels to give viewers the chance to watch all of its shows an hour later.

Channel 4+1, which is available on digital TV, repeats everything from the main channel, but with an hour's delay.

It joins around 40 "plus one" channels that are already available, including versions of ITV2, E4 and More4.

Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan said the launch of Channel 4+1 was a "logical strategic move".

Digital switchover

He added: "It's consistent with our commitment to do everything appropriate to secure Channel 4's public service model longer term."

The channel is available on Freeview, Sky Digital and Virgin Media.

Broadcasters will continue to create more ways to keep viewers interested in their channels as the digital TV switchover date looms closer.

The analogue signal will start being switched off in households in the Whitehaven area of western Cumbria from 17 October.

BBC Two will be the first channel to go, with the remaining analogue channels switched off on 14 November.

All residents will need some form of digital TV by that date, with the whole of the UK to follow by the end of 2012.

Every TV set in the country must be connected to Freeview, satellite, cable or broadband TV by that date to continue receiving programmes.
BBC