From April, the high definition simulcast of the Channel 4 network will become the fourth HD channel on Freesat, joining BBC One HD, the BBC HD channel and ITV1 HD.

Channel 4 HD launched on Sky in 2007 and has since become available on Virgin Media in summer 2009 and the Freeview HD platform in April last year.

Freesat managing director Emma Scott said: “This is fantastic news for Freesat. Channel 4 HD is a high quality channel and we’re sure it’ll prove popular with our discerning viewers.

“The addition of a fourth HD channel makes Freesat an even more attractive offer for savvy TV viewers looking for quality TV without monthly bills.”

The full BCC press release:

The BBC today announces that BBC One HD will launch at 7pm on Wednesday 3 November across all HD platforms: Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

The new high definition (HD) channel kicks off with a series of programmes made in true HD: The One Show, followed by Wallace And Gromit’s World Of Invention, the new series from award-winning Aardman Animations, as well as some food for thought with Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers and Jimmy’s Food Factory.

The Apprentice and Film 2010 will also show in HD that evening.

It is also announced today that the BBC’s award-winning continuing drama EastEnders will broadcast in HD for the first time on Christmas Day, allowing viewers to catch all the drama in Albert Square in even more vivid detail.

EastEnders follows Holby City, which made the move to HD on 18 October. It will be shown on the BBC’s existing HD channel, until BBC One HD launches in November.

The new HD channel will simulcast a network version of the BBC One schedule, with the majority of peaktime programmes in HD, including The Apprentice, Strictly Come Dancing, Children In Need, Antiques Roadshow, Countryfile, The Graham Norton Show and The Royal Variety Show.

Jana Bennett, Director BBC Vision, said:

“Whether it is seeing the flicker of irritation on Lord Sugar’s face in a boardroom showdown or watching the beads of sweat fly from the dancers on Strictly, BBC One HD is the biggest sign yet that HD viewing is now part of the mainstream.”

Danielle Nagler, Head of HD and 3D, says:

“It’s incredibly exciting to begin the official count down to the launch of the new channel and we’re delighted to be launching with BBC One’s popular flagship programe, The One Show.

“The arrival of the UK’s favourite channel in HD – as a second HD channel from the BBC – will increase the range and choice of HD programming we can offer the ever-growing HD audience.

“The existing BBC HD channel has been hugely successful. It will continue to show programmes from across all BBC channels, to allow all HD viewers to find programming they can enjoy. And it will now have space to accommodate more hours of new HD programmes from the BBC.”

Bryan Kirkwood, executive producer, EastEnders, says:

“Christmas Day in Walford is traditionally turkey, tinsel and turmoil for the residents of Albert Square. This year will be even more spectacular with viewers having the opportunity to watch the festive drama unfold in HD for the first time.”

Those shows which aren’t made in HD – including EastEnders up until Christmas Day – will still be on BBC One HD but will be upscaled*.

The BBC HD Channel will continue to bring programming such as Top Gear, Wimbledon, children’s programming, golf coverage, great drama, comedy, music and factual programmes from BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Four throughout the week.

We can also announce that this year we’ll bring viewers some of the last races of this year’s Moto GP in HD as a trial run for the sport on the channel.

The autumn launch is the first stage in delivering BBC One in HD. The majority of programmes in the BBC One network evening schedule will be available in HD at launch and, by 2012, it is expected that the vast majority of all BBC One titles across all hours will be in HD.

In time, the channel will evolve to bring all programmes, news and current affairs to viewers in the nations and regions.

You can follow the progress towards the channel launch on twitter @naglerHD

BBC One HD will be available – from 3 November – on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108

BBC HD will be available – from 3 November – on Freesat channel 109, Freeview channel 54, Sky channel 169 and Virgin Media channel 187.

BBC One HD, which will simulcast a network version of the BBC One schedule for the first time, will see some of the BBC’s most loved programmes including EastEnders, Holby City, The One Show, The Apprentice, The Weakest Link and QI move to HD by the end of the year. They will be broadcast alongside Autumn schedule highlights including Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.

Plans are also underway for HD moves for Songs Of Praise and Casualty, as well as Match Of The Day, A Question Of Sport, and Blue Peter.

BBC One in HD will be made available to all digital television platforms offering HD channels – Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.

It will be in addition to the existing BBC HD channel, which will showcase the best of the rest of the BBC in HD. It is also announced today that the BBC HD Channel itself will extend its regular broadcast hours over the coming months from around nine hours a day to 12.

The BBC is charged with “delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services” under its Royal Charter. With today’s announcement, the BBC continues its transition to deliver all its programmes in HD, with BBC One leading the way.

Jana Bennett, Director BBC Vision, says:

“BBC HD has established itself as the most popular HD service, and these changes are important next steps in improving that service still further, providing an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of BBC programmes in the highest possible quality. We recognise that audiences have already been enjoying many of their favourite programmes in HD, and I’m delighted that we can now broaden their choice.”

Danielle Nagler, Head of BBC HD, says:

 ”HD is the future of television: people who have HD have clearly told us that they want more of their licence fee-funded content in HD. I’m delighted that the HD simulcast of BBC One will become available on satellite, on cable, and now also on Freeview’s new HD service. This is a key moment for us on the journey to HD becoming the norm for all our programmes and channels.

“Audiences have already been enjoying many BBC One programmes in HD on our existing HD channel and the arrival of BBC One simulcast in HD will make it easier for them to find the programmes they love in high definition. BBC HD – the most popular HD channel in the UK – will continue to show programmes from across all BBC channels.”

Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, says:

“HD is the gold standard for broadcasting, and it’s right that we bring all the excitement of HD to BBC One – the most watched channel in the UK.

“BBC One HD will bring families together for shared viewing of their favourite programmes from EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing to The One Show, in incredible and vivid detail.”

The Autumn launch is the first stage in delivering BBC One in HD. The majority of programmes in the BBC One network evening schedule will be available in HD at launch, and by 2012 it is expected that the vast majority of all BBC One titles across all hours will be in HD.

The BBC’s existing HD Channel will continue to remain home to the best of the BBC’s programmes from across all its channels, including Top Gear, the Proms, Later… With Jools Holland, The Culture Show, Dragons’ Den, Being Human, Mad Men, sporting programmes including Wimbledon, as well as CBeebies favourites In The Night Garden and ZingZillas.

ITV launches its new channel, ITV1 HD, on April 2nd 2010, which will broadcast ITV1’s schedule in high definition for the first time.

ITV this week reached commercial agreement with Sky and Virgin Media for carriage of the new channel. ITV1 HD will also launch on Freeview*; and Freesat, where it will move from a red button service to a standalone channel for the first time.   The new deals mean that ITV1 HD will be available on all major high definition platforms ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

The ITV1 schedule will be simulcast on the new channel, with the majority of peak time content available in ‘native’ HD, including all live football, and an increasing range of drama, factual and entertainment programming.  Other ITV1 content including GMTV and the daytime schedule, will be ‘upscaled’ – giving viewers a better than ever experience of the nation’s most popular commercial channel.

Upcoming highlights on ITV1 HD will include the final stages of the UEFA Champions League and The FA Cup as well as England internationals and the FIFA World Cup 2010.  HD dramas include Father & Son, Law and Order: UK, Identity, The Prisoner, Foyles War and Lewis.  In factual programming there’s the chance to see Joanna Lumley’s Nile, Greatest Cities of the World with Griff Rhys Jones, and the brand new Survival with Ray Mears all in pure HD.  And, for HD entertainment there’s The Whole 19 Yards, 71 Degrees North, Soccer Aid and the UK’s biggest TV show, Britain’s Got Talent.  ITV1’s Prime Ministerial debate will also be shown in HD.

Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television, Channels and Online, said:

 “The availability of high definition content is something viewers have come to expect as standard and, as we approach the 2010 World Cup, I’m delighted that we are able to launch our new channel, ITV1 HD, on all major platforms.

“All of our output will benefit from the stunning picture quality that high definition offers, whether it’s ITV’s original drama, landmark factual shows, entertainment events or our live football.”

Notes to Editors:

ITV1 HD will be available on the following EPG numbers:

Freesat   119
Freeview  51
Sky       178
Virgin    113

HIT THE RIGHT NOTES WITH THE PROMS ON BBC HD ON FREESAT

The symphonies, concertos, overtures and fugues of this year’s Proms will be better than ever this year with Freesat bringing viewers this unique summer event in glorious high definition on BBC HD. From the First Night of the Proms on Friday July 17 you can recreate the Proms experience in your own home all summer long, culminating with the renowned Last Night of the Proms celebration on September 12.

No need to compromise on sound or picture quality with Freesat as high definition (HD) gives you five times the quality of normal digital TV. With The Proms in crystal-clear HD, you won’t miss a single stroke of the kettle drum or twitch of the conductor’s baton as the experience bursts out of the TV and into your home.

This summer marks the 115th year of the Proms, with concerts taking place in famous venues around the country; from the Royal Albert Hall to Cadogan Hall and the popular BBC Proms in the Park events.

As ever, the world’s finest classical talents will be performing, including pianist Lang Lang, violinist Joshua Bell, and well-known conductors William Christie and Valery Gergiev. Enjoy the music and feel the passion as Freesat brings the event to life in glorious high definition.

The Proms on the BBC HD channel will also be available in stunning surround sound for Freesat viewers with home-cinema speakers. So music lovers up and down the country will be able to savour the best in classical music as if they have the best seats in the house.

Other highlights available on BBC HD in the coming weeks include the IAAF World Athletics Championship Berlin 2009, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey and Dragon’s Den.

ITV is in talks with freesat and Panasonic regarding its High Definition broadcasts and the ability to record/archive HD  programmes to Blu-ray discs.

Currently ITV’s HD content is flagged with “Copy Never” codes, which prevent it from being copied by the new Panasonic  Blu-ray recorders from the hard disc to Blu-ray.

The BBC allows its HD content to be copied once, from the machine’s hard drive. See this post

ITV is talking to both parties in order to find a suitable solution to the issue for HD content, that will be in line with the broadcaster’s programmed rights contracts.

 “Being able to broadcast this year’s BET Awards exclusively on Freesat in HD is a real coup and we hope Freesat viewers will really enjoy watching some of the world’s biggest entertainers like Beyonce and Jay Z with amazing HD picture and sound quality”.
 
“We’re committed to bringing our viewers brilliant HD programming completely subscription-free and we hope this will be the first of many Freesat HD exclusives”.

Talksport is the UK’s largest commercial radio station, broadcasting sports phone-ins and discussions, live sports commentary, and lively phone-in discussions.  Talksport is the UK’s only national commercial speech radio station and is home to talent that includes former international footballers Ian Wright, Andy Townsend, Stan Collymore and Alan Brazil, TV talk show host Jeremy Kyle and politician George Galloway.

Emma Scott, Managing Director of freesat commented; “Talksport is a respected name in sports broadcasting and its launch onto freesat is a big plus for our radio portfolio. With the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals on ITV HD this month, and Wimbledon coverage on BBC HD next month, the addition of Talksport builds on freesat’s first class and free sports coverage.”

Piers Collins, Talksport business development manager added, “The launch of Talksport on freesat is a fantastic opportunity to grow Talksport reach new audiences.”  

Although a welcome addition to the freesat EPG we would like to see further TV channels especially more High Definition content joining the EPG.

Your freesat set top box or freesat TV should automatically retune for the new channel.

We will update channel list as soon at Talksport goes live on channel 731 next Tuesday, link to Talksport website here.

Emma Scott, Managing Director of Freesat commented

“Freesat is committed to expanding our international news and current affairs offering and NHK World TV represents yet another high quality channel, which provides viewers with access to a high quality news service from an interesting new viewpoint.”

Makoto Harada, Director-General of NHK WORLD TV added,

“The launch on freesat will offer viewers in the UK a new way to enjoy NHK WORLD TV’s unique, alternative perspective: your eye on Asia.”  

NHK World TV will be on channel 209 and your set top box or TV should automatically retune itself over the next few days or you can force a retune automatically.

Link to NHK World TV website

The freesat channel list has been updated

The new DRM which is encoded with the programme will now allow consumers to make one personal copy of a HD programme (after recording to the PVR hard disc) to a Blu-ray disc, but the DRM will prevent copies of that Blu-ray disc.

Danielle Nagler, head of BBC HD said:

“It will now be possible to make a single HD Blu-ray copy of one of our programmes, although not copies of copies. An HD connection to a protected home network will also be possible, although an HD connection to the Internet or portable devices will not work”

Copies of SD (Standard Definition) is not affected and you can make copies of copies if you so desire, Digital Rights Management is enforced on High Definition programmes as the rights holders (ie film makers) do not want HD copies of their materiel freely available on the internet, if DRM was not enforced by the broadcasters they would not be allowed to broadcast HD content from the rights owner and would only be allowed to broadcast the Standard Definition version.

The BBC says in the future it will be possible to make a copy onto any portable device that supports the relevant copy protection protocol – but this support will be up to the individual manufacturers.

The BBC went on to say:

“Copy protection is a big issue. The BBC has not restricted the copying of any of it’s own programmes in SD and we do not want to do it in HD however some rights owners do want high quality versions of their material protected from multiple copying and from being distributed on the internet and we have to comply.”

“The level of protection on the BBC HD Channel has been reduced to allow the new Blu-ray recorders to make single copies and (subject to the manufacturers) home network distribution to IP TVs etc.”

 

The full article can be seen on the BBC HD Blog