The BBC has announced that high definition TV (HDTV) broadcasts on digital terrestrial television will start in December.
The Freeview HDTV service will launch on a reconfigured version of Freeview multiplex B and will initially include HDTV channels from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Like digital switchover, Freeview HD service will roll out region by region across the UK, starting with the Winter Hill transmitter which serves Manchester and Liverpool. TV Regions that have already switched to digital will be reconfigured retroactively.
The December date is actually a month after the previously announced November launch for the service.
Graham Plumb of the BBC Operations Group said: “The plan is still to launch Freeview HD on December 2nd at the Winter Hill transmitter serving Manchester and Liverpool. The plan has always been to roll Freeview HD out around the country following switchover and Winter Hill was selected as the first achievable transmitter. There will need to be a retrospective upgrade of regions that have already switched.”
Thumb added that London’s Crystal Palace transmitter will also be upgraded for Freeview HD in the same month.
“The BBC has been working on plans to deliver early upgrades to some stations (serving high populations) that are late in the switchover programme and would otherwise have to wait long for Freeview HD.
“One example is London that switches over in 2012 but we’re planning to upgrade its Crystal Palace transmitter in December this year. There are another four main transmitters that we plan to upgrade in the first half of 2010. We can give the names and dates of these transmitters in a little while when plans are a bit firmer. We are also planning an upgrade to the Digital UK postcode database, which will tell viewers when they can expect their transmitter to be upgraded to Freeview HD.
The December launch gives the consumer electrical trade little time to get a good range of Freeview HD boxes available for customers to take advantage of the Freeview HD broadcasts. Existing Freeview boxes will need replacing with Freeview HD boxes, which are likely to cost over £150 each.
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