BBC extends HD offering

The BBC plans to extend its HD service to nine hours a day, the maximum amount of output allowed under its current BBC Trust service licence.

The corporation’s HD channel was previously airing around six to seven hours of high definition content a day, but now plans to extend its hours from 4pm to between 12.20am and 1.30am, seven nights a week.

It will also increase its HD broadcasting when sporting events, such as the Six Nations rugby matches, fall outside those hours.

Head of BBC HD, Danielle Nagler, said she is “trying to build greater consistency into the schedule”, which will be launched alongside an on-air promotion early next month.

The BBC also plans to launch the channel on iPlayer and is working through content changes.

“Getting some of the programmes I think need to move into HD may mean a slight shake up of some of the things that have featured in the past,” Nagler said.

The changes are thought to include adding more Six Nations matches next year, as currently no fixtures that are played in France and Italy are broadcast in HD, and cancelling the Chelsea Flower Show‘s HD coverage.

Nagler also confirmed that the BBC’s latest acquisition, The Wire, will not air in HD.