4 new HD channels in april

[dank76]

does anyone know what HD channels are coming out in april ?

[Ev0151]

Sky1 is goin HD - imagine .. the Simpsons in HD!


I would imagine Virgin1 will be to.

[ukgovsucks]

I heard that Sky are finally giving VM access to all their HD stuff. I assume that they have been forced into this somehow. Which is also the reason why they have suddenly dropped the price of their HD Box to ?49 in a last gasp attempt to grab as many HD subscribers as possible before VM get their mits on the stuff! If all this is true, then it could mean channels like Sky Sports 1 HD etc available at long last on VM! We'll have to wait nearer the time I guess.

[HiTeck]

Source -- Cable - News - Virgin 'to add' linear HD channels - Digital Spy

Virgin 'to add' linear HD channels

Friday, December 12 2008, 16:41 GMT

By James Welsh

Virgin Media has announced a plan to add linear high definition channels to its digital cable lineup.

In a presentation to the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York, Virgin Media chief executive Neil Berkett said the cable operator was "levelling the linear content playing field versus Sky", and pointed to the reacquisition of Sky's basic channels in standard definition channels - "largely funded" through an increase in the licence fees Virgin receives for the carriage of its own bouquet of services on the Sky EPG - as a key step in this process.

Berkett said that a "plan to add linear high definition channels" had been developed but did not elaborate on timescales or precise channels. Virgin's digital cable service currently carries only one linear high definition service, BBC HD; Freesat offers BBC HD and ITV HD, while Sky carries 29 HD services. Virgin does, however, offer a variety of high definition content on demand, which Berkett said consumers are "increasingly demanding".

Speculation that Virgin plans to add further television services to its lineup - of both high definition and standard definition broadcasts - recently increased after a report on the Digital Spy forums suggested that ITV HD was testing on the platform.

Today, a Virgin Media spokesperson told DS: "We are in ongoing discussion with a number of broadcasters with regards to new SD and HD channels and are currently evaluating our HD plans for 2009."

[khenryashley]

Thanks HiTeck
I am holding off buying the Ex7000 till we have confirmation.
I have just got this feeling VM may not make it so easy.
Chers
Ash

[junger]

HD Channels

I work in the industry and can hopefully enlighten you on the future HD plans, I believe that BBC ITV C4 and Ch5 plan to transmit Freeview in HD (dont get mixed up with FREESAT as that is different and requires a dish on astra 28.2 east), the information available to me is that HD tests are being done now through the digital transmitters around the country, The downside to this is that NO freeview plasma' s or LCD's currently have built-in HD tuners. This in turn means to receive the new HD channels you will require a new plasma/lcd with built in HD tuner or a box will be launched as an interim. In Aug 2008 the launch was projected for April 2009, however, I suspect that the launch will be delayed until later on in the year allowing the analogue signal to be remove thus allowing the full UHF bandwith to be available. I will keep D.K posted as it develops,
Junger

[khenryashley]

I believe this may tie in with this recent announcement
INFO
Freeview HD services from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will all be launching in conjunction with digital switchover. The first TV region expected to get this HD coverage is Granada in late 2009.

[RustyMG]

junger - the information you mention isnt exactly "inside information", but widely available, and has been for several months.

Some UK viewers will be able to watch High Definition (HD) on Freeview by the end of 2009 - as per Ofcom themselves!


The regulator has reserved capacity for HD services on Freeview for ITV, UTV, stv, Channel TV, and Channel 4 and S4C.

These public service broadcasters join the BBC in being able to broadcast in HD on Freeview, with services becoming available on a region by region basis as the country switches over to digital TV.

According to Ofcom, viewers in the Granada region should be able to watch HD services from late 2009, followed by Wales, Scotland and the West Country in 2010. Viewers in Central, Yorkshire, Anglia and Meridian will be able to receive HD programmes on Freeview in 2011, while London, Tyne Tees and Ulster will get them by 2012.

To be able to view the new services viewers will need an HD Ready TV set and a new Freeview HD box.

Ofcom said it also believed a fourth HD service could be launched on Freeview by 2010.

Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards said: 'This is a major step in the development of digital terrestrial television.

'It will enable viewers to watch some of the very best programmes free to air in high definition through their television aerials.'

Channel 4 made a joint proposal for HD services with Welsh-language broadcaster S4C which involves a simultaneous broadcast of the HD version of the Channel 4 service across the UK. In Wales, viewers will receive an HD version of the S4C Digidol service.

Channel 4 said that 4HD would broadcast over 150 hours of films in HD during the first twelve months, with the majority shown in peak-time as well as drama, comedy, science programmes while viewers of S4C HD will be able to watch Welsh-language programmes in HD.

ITV plans to simultaneously broadcast the current peak-time O-N-L-Y (18.00-23.00) ITV1 schedule in HD. The new ITV HD service will include:the FA Cup and the 2010 Football World Cup, in HD. ITV proposes to offer on demand services and sub-let services outside of peak-time hours to allow other broadcasters to offer HD or other services on DTT.

An upgrade of the DTT platform to new and more efficient technologies will allow the broadcasters to free-up capacity in order to offer new HD services. The upgrade includes using two new broadcasting standards, known as MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 which are not available on current DTT devices.

Also, the testing has been ongoing since May last year, so for once looks like it isnt a rush job and has been done right. 450 trialists have been using the system giving feedback, and the only downside seems to be that ITV, C4 & Five are slightly more sensitive than BBC and more difficult to pick up, possibly down to the low power transmission as part of the trial.

Hope this info helps clear things up a bit :-)

[junger]

RustyMG
Your right, but I never suggested that it was inside info. But replying to a freesat question