HDTV On Freeview Terrestrial Given Go-Ahead

Freeview High Definition to be available next year!

Ofcom has announced that it’s allowing high definition TV channels to be transmitted on the Freeview terrestrial TV platform next year, in 2009. The new channels, 3 in total, will be available to any viewer with adequate reception, a HD ready TV and an additional Freeview set top box or receiver. There will also be a further 4th channel available by 2012 - just in time for the Olympics.

There is only one downside to this announcement, if you can call it that, you will have to wait until conventional analogue TV is switched off/switched over to digital TV in your area. This means viewers in the Wales, Granada and Borders regions will be able to access the HD TV channels whilst those yet to be switched to digital will have to wait until their area is digital TV only.

Switchover By Region

Border	2008/9
Granada, West Country	2009
Wales	2009/10
STV Central & North, West	2010/11
Anglia, Central, Yorkshire	2011
London, Meridian, Tyne Tees, Ulster	2012

If you are unsure which TV Region you come under it is the same as your ITV regional news, and analogue ITV Teletext on page 106.

More information on when your area switches over is available at the Freeview website.

Technical insights into the new high definition channels are being kept quiet at the moment, but it looks like the current main BBC multiplex will be moved/reshuffled to make room for the new channels; and it would seem likely the BBC will have one HD channel with the other slots being offered for bidding between the regular commercial TV channels.

Filed Under Digital Terrestrial