In anticipation of a full UK rollout, High Definition broadcasts through the Freeview platform go live today on a trial basis for selected participants.
The Standard Definition Freeview service has become hugely popular in the UK, recently achieving a landmark 10m household installations. There are currently around 50 SD Freeview channels.
When the High Definition service becomes generally available, HD channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will come on stream.
The new Freeview HD channels will be introduced on a region by region basis in conjunction with the roll-out of digital TV across the UK. The Granada region is scheduled to receive the first HD programmes on Freeview from late 2009, followed by Wales, Scotland and the West Country in 2010. Complete nationwide coverage should be in place by 2012.
Unfortunately, Freeview users will need to purchase new set top boxes to receive the new HD channels. At least two HD ready Freeview set top boxes are scheduled to reach the market by the end of the year. There is no news as yet on which manufacturers will have a box that is DVB-T2 (HD) enabled.
The announcement is good news for those who prefer not to have a satellite installed for the only other source of subscription free HD (Freesat); and a large number of us will be delighted to at long last get some quality High Definition content for our flat panel TV's without having to pay any subscription charges.
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