BBC To Launch HDTV Trial On All Platforms Next Year
The BBC has announced plans to begin high definition television broadcasts next year, simulcasting highlights of BBC One’s peaktime schedule via satellite and cable.
The experimental broadcasts, penciled in for “mid-2006”, will mark the Corporation’s first public HDTV services, although it is currently distributing some high definition programmes via its online broadcasting trial, available to around 2,000 users (see BBC Enters Second Phase Of Web TV Trial).
In addition to nationwide trials using HDTV signals over satellite and cable networks, the BBC plans to run a technical terrestrial trial in the London area, delivered via the Freeview platform, although the Corporation is keen to stress that this will not affect reception of existing Freeview channels.
Commenting on the trials, BBC director of television, Jana Bennett, said: “From colour and widescreen to digital radio and television, the BBC has always been at the forefront of innovations in broadcasting. Our promise to our licence payers is to give them the highest quality television, so the time is right for the BBC to get involved in high definition.
“High definition may take time to grow in Britain, but as with the other technologies we helped to build, the BBC wants to prepare now to be able to deliver the benefits of HD to all its licence payers in the long term.”
The BBC’s HDTV trial will be overseen by Seetha Kumar, appointed to the new role of head of HDTV for the Corporation.
The trial will begin on each platform as soon as is technically viable, with the BBC planning to run high definition broadcasts for around a year. The new service will not impact or replace any current service and will operate purely as an extra broadcast channel.
Earlier this year saw the BBC acquire extra satellite bandwidth from Luxembourg-based SES Global, sparking rumours that it was preparing an imminent launch of high definition (HD) services (see New BBC Bandwidth Could Lead To HDTV Launch).
The Corporation has invested heavily in HDTV technology in recent months, but is not the only broadcaster planning to launch the services next year. Sky has announced the channel line-up for its impending HD service, with a Sky Sports channel, Sky One, Artsworld, a Sky Box Office channel and two Sky Movies screens airing with increased picture quality from launch (see Sky Announces HDTV Channel Line Up).
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