BBC, ITV, C4 And Five Sign HD For Freeview Agreement

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five have announced that they have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding that, if agreed, would deliver HD channels on Freeview by the projected completion of digital switchover in 2012.

Potentially from late-2009/2010, BBC HD, which was approved yesterday by the BBC Trust (see BBC Trust Approves HDTV Channel Launch), ITV HD and Channel 4 HD could all be available on Freeview, with Five HD launching as soon afterwards as capacity is available and by 2012 at the latest, subject to the relevant regulatory agreements and conditional on the necessary Board approvals.

The agreement encompasses the use of new technologies, which will increase the capacity available on Freeview; a rearrangement of some of the channels carried on Freeview, in line with Ofcom’s suggestion, setting aside one of the BBC’s two multiplexes for the carriage of not only BBC HD but also ITV HD, Channel 4 HD and – as soon as technically possible – Five HD.

The agreement follows discussions with Ofcom and the Government to launch the new services consumers want, in particular free-to-air High Definition. A variation of the relevant BBC multiplex licence to carry HD services will be subject to approval from Ofcom. The proposed agreement would also require approval by the BBC Trust.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com Channel 4: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv