Broadcasters Could Bring HDTV To Freeview

The BBC, Five, ITV and Channel 4 are pooling their resources to launch the UK’s first high definition (HD) trial broadcasts to terrestrial aerials.

A joint statement released by the broadcasters said that 450 people are involved in the test which, if successful, could mean HD broadcasts on the highly popular freeview service (see Digital Television Thriving In The UK).

The audience panel was selected from online volunteers who registered on a website in April and the research will be carried out by TNS Media.

The trial should run for six months and is being conducted under an Ofcom licence which strictly limits the number of receivers and forbids reception of the trial stream by general members of the public.

The BBC’s trial HD stream will offer identical programming to its HD trial broadcasts on satellite and cable throughout the trial, while ITV will like the BBC offer its World Cup coverage in HD (see BBC And ITV Agree World Cup Coverage Share)and Channel 4 and Five will carry on with their normal mix of US imports and cutting edge commissions.

If HDTV does come to freeview it could help to ease the confusion consumers have over the service (see Consumers In The Dark Over HDTV) or even encourage people to switch to digital television before the analogue switch off in 2012 makes it necessary (see Freeview To Overtake Sky In Analogue Switch-Off).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com