Freeview has revealed its high definition upgrade programme – and it’s much bigger than expected.
More than 20 terrestrial TV transmitters and relay groups will be broadcasting the Freeview HD multiplex in time for the football World Cup in June 2010.
First to go live on December 2 this year will be Winter Hill, which serves Manchester, and Crystal Palace in London.
Previous announcements had then earmarked transmitters serving London (Crystal Palace), Glasgow and Edinburgh (Black Hill), Durham and Teeside (Pontop Pike), Birmingham (Lichfield), and south Yorkshire (Emley Moor) in the first half of 2010.
The full list includes most of Wales, the entire Granada region, the Shetlands and Orkneys, and northern Scotland.
By the end of 2010, homes in most of Scotland and western England, plus the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, will be able to receive HD through their TV aerial.
The rest of the UK will be able to receive Freeview HD as their regions switch to digital in 2011 and 2012.
Caroline Thomson, the BBC’s chief operating officer, said: “This is a terrific step forward, and it’s a great achievement that the BBC and its partners have been able to work together to overcome some really difficult technical challenges to bring HD to the Freeview platform through world-leading innovation.
“We’re really excited about the prospect of seeing BBC HD and HD channels from the other public service broadcasters on Freeview next year.”
Freeview HD uses the new DVB-T2 standard as well as MPEG-4 video compression, unlike the DVB-T and MPEG-2 combination used on Freeview.
Viewers will need a new set-top box or compatible TV – zapper boxes are expected from Humax and Pace, although no-one has announced a Freeview HD TV yet.
