To access the HD programmes and new services on Freeview after digital switch over is completed in your area viewers will need a HD Ready TV set and a new HD set-top box that is capable of receiving the new services as they are broadcast using the MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 compression and transmission standards, there are currently no TV’s or set top boxes on the market at the moment.

BBC HD and ITV HD are currently available now free to air on freesat with Channel 4 HD expected to join shortly.

Before everyone gets carried away please be aware of the following:

Roll out of Freeview HD channels will be linked to digital switchover, currently taking place in the UK which means that HD will only become available in the UK on a region by region basis from launch until 2012.

In order to view HD channels on Freeview, consumers will need to replace their existing Freeview receiving equipment (either a set top box or a television with a Freeview receiver built in) by purchasing entirely new equipment.

Freeview coverage in the UK currently stands at 73%. Even after digital switchover there will still be a proportion of UK households which will not be able to view Freeview and it’s HD channels whilst Freesat reaches 98% of UK homes now.

freesat have responded with the following in response to Ofcom’s announcement today:

“With Freesat, subscription free high definition (HD) is already a reality for the UK. We believe our no strings offer of over 130 channels plus great HD programmes from the BBC and ITV, for a one off payment of as little as £120, is leading the way in making HD the standard that viewers will come to expect in the future.”

“Due to the way we broadcast our service, via satellite rather than traditional aerial, HD is available now to 98% of UK homes via Freesat. Freesat homes don’t have to wait until Digital Switchover reaches their region to get HD for free – which for large parts of the country is still over three years off.”

In addition even after digital switchover is completed there will still be area in the UK where Freeview will still not be available and the only option here will be freesat or SKY digital.

In addition ITV has reached agreement with Channel TV, STV and UTV to broadcast ITV1′s primetime schedule in HD.

ITV HD will broadcast key sporting fixtures, inclding the 2010 World Cup, in high definition, along with some newly-commissioned drama series. Regional news in the early evening and late night will be replaced on the HD channel with nationally-broadcast “programmes about the UK’s nations and regions”. Outside primetime, ITV plans to sub-let its slot to other providers.

The update offers: HD MHEG performance enhancements and added DDS Support to DVB Subtitles

Model: Foxsat-HD
Software Version: HZPTSF 1.00.15
Loader Version: U7.22
System ID: 35F1.0000

Release Notes:
- HD MHEG Performance enhancements
- Added DDS Support to DVB Subtitles

Panasonic full HD LCD TV with freesat built-in is a convenient and high quality way to view over 130 digital TV and radio channels including brilliant HD programmes from the BBC and ITV, all for free.* The LZD81 series boasts a high contrast ratio of an incredible 10,000:1 with ISC (Intelligent Scene Controller) ensuring consistent deep black levels and crisp on-screen motion. This new line-up also features V-Real Pro 3 picture technology which perfectly optimises the performance of the display panel to render smooth, crystal clear motion without compromising on delicate colours with rich gradation. The full HD resolution panel beautifully reproduces all High Definition sources including Blu-ray and the freesat HD programming. Plus the V-Real Pro 3 processor also offers up-scaling capabilities, second to none when it comes to reproducing standard definition sources such as DVD or TV programming, where HD is not yet available.

Picture quality is also enhanced with an extra wide colour gamut with x.v.Colour, which produces richer, more vivid colouring from x.v.Colour** signals. Many LCD’s suffer from colour wash-out when not viewed from directly in front, however, Panasonic’s latest generation of IPS Alpha panels have an extra wide 178 degree viewing angle, both horizontally and vertically, meaning the whole family can watch TV from anywhere in the room.

These TV’s come equipped with V-Audio Surround sound for the complete home cinema experience, delivering the best of sound with V-Audio surround and V-Audio technologies which feature Panasonic’s unique digital amplifier and BBE (Bass Boost Enhancement).

For ease of use these LCD’s come equipped with three HDMI connector slots, to connect all your AV equipment, such as a Blu-ray disc player, DVD recorder and camcorders with 24p playback, as well as 2 SCART connectors, SD Card (JPEG) and PC Input. The LZD81’s also feature freesat EPG and Gemstar GUIDEplusâ„¢, 7-day on-screen electronic programme guides with easy to navigate categories for both satellite and terrestrial digital services. They also feature Viera Link, which allows interlinked operation of various Panasonic AV devices using only the remote control, by simply connecting the devices to each other by an HDMI cable.

The LZD81’s also incorporate “Eco Mode,” automatically adjusting the picture settings depending on the ambient lighting conditions. The image brightness changes according to the level of room lighting to achieve an energy-saving operation.

All Panasonic freesat models are supplied with HD & SD Digital Satellite, SD Digital Terrestrial and SD Analogue Terrestrial Tuners with easy user navigation between freesat, Freeview and analogue terrestrial services.

Digital reception for the whole UK
In addition to providing access to HD services, freesat also offers a route to other digital TV and radio services for out of coverage areas. With 98% of UK households within the freesat footprint virtually all homes in the UK can enjoy switching to digital right now.

“Electronics manufacturer, Metronic, has signed a deal to produce high definition Freesat digital boxes that will go on sale by the end of the year.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Metronic. They will deliver important extra volumes of affordable and high quality product to meet the demand from retailers and consumers as we enter the peak season,” said Freesat MD Emma Scott.

“Demand has been high since launch and the deal is especially significant given our ever improving line-up of channels and HD programmes. BBC HD and ITV HD have great schedules of drama, documentaries, blockbuster movies and sport planned for the run up to Christmas and, in the case of ITV HD, Freesat will be the only place to see them.”

Freesat is also in discussions with a number of other potential digital box and integrated digital television (IDTV) manufacturers and expects to announce the next wave of partners by the end of the year. Additional distribution channels are also being considered and will form part of an on-going strategy to bring free digital and HD TV to everyone that wants it.

“This new exciting partnership with Freesat will enhance the reputation of Metronic in the UK as a quality provider of digital products. As an established provider of free to air satellite equipment throughout Europe Metronic recognises that its new relationship with Freesat is a major step forward for the brand in the UK,” claimed Dale Heathcote Metronic MD.”

This is obviously good news with more choice of manufacturers coming on board.

Commenting on the Olympics being broadcast in high definition on BBC HD channel, Emma Scott, MD of Freesat said;

“The Olympics is the ultimate global sporting event, and viewers will be astounded by the quality of the BBC’s HD footage; every drop of water falling off the oars of a rower to the sand erupting from the long jump pit will be beautifully clear.

At Freesat, we’re committed to bringing brilliant HD programming to as many UK viewers as possible, for free. The scope of BBC’s HD coverage of the Beijing Olympics is testament to the exciting future of HD broadcasting in this country.”

According to the industry analysts Screen Digest, 41 per cent of households in the UK own a HD Ready television, but only 10 per cent of these homes are connected to a High Definition television service such as freesat, it seems a bit of waste as you could be taking advantage of the High Definition content on your new shiny HD Ready TV which you might have paid a lot of money for and watching all the action from the Olympics in High Definition, sweat and polution included at five times the detail!

Obviously to receive the HD broadcast you will need a HD receiver and satellite dish and a HD ready TV or the new all singing dancing Panasonic Plasma TV with freesat built in, now is the ideal opportunity to purchase a HD freesat set top box as on line retailer Dixons are offering 10% off all freesat receivers until the 29th August click here for more details.

For more details on receiving freesat see our “What is Needed” section.

Details are very hard to come by at the moment and nothing can be currently found on their website, the receiver we understand though will carry the freesat badge so will have a compliant EPG, HDMI, Optical, ethernet port connections etc though.

It is also rumoured that they are planning to produce a high definition freesat PVR/DTR as well, this will bring competition to Humax who are the only other manufacturer known to have one in the pipeline as the Alba group who manufacture the Goodmans, Grundig and Bush freesat set top boxes are not currently planning on producing a PVR to our knowledge.

Metronic is a subsidiary of HF Company and was established in France in 1988, Metronic LTD was established in the UK in January 2007.

The broadcasts in HD from Euro 2008 have received rave reviews despite the initial sound problems which have seemed to resolve themselves. Also ITV HD will be broadcasting Champions League games in HD later in the year.