What future for BBC-HD?

[ndenbow]

Hi all,

I was reading one of my fave technology sites this morning and read that the test BBC-HD channel is only supposed to be commissioned until end Nov 2007, with a view of permanent HD channels coming 2012 in line with analogue switch-off?

Will the BBC-HD channel be switched off soon?

[meltonboy]

The recent reports on its future have been a little confusing. I thought that i had read that the new proper channel had been given the go-ahead, with dicsussions about content / style. BUT, the last thing i saw was that the result of the public value test was due on 21st November.

Possibly search in the forums, as people often comment in the sky hd and virgin media forums about this.

I think its unlikely that there would be a gap between the test service ending and the proper service starting, but you never know. Dont forget that the test service itself has been extended as it was originally for 1 year from the end of may last year (just before the world cup).

MB

[JohnKen]

Originally Posted by ndenbow

Hi all,

I was reading one of my fave technology sites this morning and read that the test BBC-HD channel is only supposed to be commissioned until end Nov 2007, with a view of permanent HD channels coming 2012 in line with analogue switch-off?

Will the BBC-HD channel be switched off soon?

There are several threads on the go covering the BBCHD decisons and the key documents:
All change for DTT when HD launches!

Analogue switchoff started today

Freeview In Hd

To answer your question though - I think there is no chance there will be a gap. BBCHD will become a full service (4 hours) from late November, Ch4HD starts in December (simulcast but peak time HD), and ITV1 (simulcast - peak time HD) from March 2008. These will grow to 9 hours or full simulcast during 2008 on Satellite & Cable. the big problem is on DTT / Freeview - where it now looks as though it will be 2009 before an HD service is worthwhile - but that's soon enough for the major population areas going over to MPEG4/ DVB-T2 at switchover. Ofcom are about to launch a major consultation on all that. Its all in the threads I've pointed to.

Hope that's helpful - the interesting stuff is in the links to the BBC Trust and Ofcom sites.

[ndenbow]

So the obvious question will be - can I watch these new HD services using a SkyHD receiver without upgrading my subs, like I can with BBD-HD? Or will Sky consider this a threat?

It's starting to look better to me....