Sky to launch UK’s first HD news channel

BSkyB will next year launch the UK’s first news channel to be broadcast in HD.

The launch is scheduled for spring 2010 after an upgrade to Sky’s news gathering operations, studios and production facilities.

The new HD news channel will be simulcast alongside Sky’s existing news channel and will join the broadcaster’s 33 HD channels including Sky Movies and Sky Sports.

Ofcom yesterday provisionally awarded Five a licence to broadcast HD services on digital terrestrial television from 2010 (see Five could launch DTT HD services by 2010).

The regulator announced in April 2008 that it would instigate the reorganisation of the DTT platform to allow new HD services.