Best way to see the World Cup in HD? FreeSat or Virgin Media?

sammi22

Just got a wonderful new TV with built in FreeSat, and we are currently have Virgin Media's "L" TV package with a V Box (Not a V HD box).

My partner has got himself all excited about the prospect of being able to watch the World Cup football in HD and my question is; what's the best way for me to get him HD footie?

Think our options are getting the V HD box and getting it through Virgin Media or a satellite dish and getting it through FreeSat HD.

Also, am I right in saying that the World Cup is split between BBC and ITV? I read somewhere that ITV HD is not available in Scotland, can anyone clarify this?

lucylucky

http://www.freesat.co.uk/worldcup/

According to the above you will get freesat HD all over the UK so that looks like the best money saving option for you

dogmaryxx

sammi22 wrote: »

Also, am I right in saying that the World Cup is split between BBC and ITV? I read somewhere that ITV HD is not available in Scotland, can anyone clarify this?

Read posts on http://www.digitalspy.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=1230474 to view ITV HD on FreeSat in Scotland.

sammi22

http://www.freesat.co.uk/worldcup/ wrote:

* ITV1 HD on Channel 119 is available to viewers in England, Wales and those Scottish viewers in the Border TV region.

Ah this is where I've read this! I'm in Central Scotland . Don't know that it's worth paying anything if he can only watch half the games in HD.

EDIT: Sorry posted at the same time as you dogmary, I assume then that FreeSat is the only option then for getting all games as Virgin already know our postcode.

dogmaryxx

ITV 1 HD in Scotland and Northern Ireland: ITV does not have a licence to broadcast in Scotland or Northern Ireland -The companies STV and UTV hold the Channel 3 licences for those regions (respectively). STV will apparently be launching their own HD channel in the future. As a result, ITV 1 HD is not available on Freesat Channel 118 in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Virgin.

At least with FreeSat you have the work around options.

lucylucky

I know it is possible to add ITV1HD to a Sky HD box if you live in Central Scotland, so it may be possible to do so on the Freesat box. - Google might well help here. (Sorry just dashing out otherwise I would look it up)

The_FD

Hi

I live in Edinburgh and use Freesat. You can get ITV HD on it. It doesn't have STV only ITV. And by pressing the red button you get the HD. I also have Sky Hd so can also get STV from it. As someone else said you can add ITV HD to Sky - but this is not your question.

almillar

I'm in NI. Easiest way to get ITV HD is just go to channel 977 which is the ITV London SD channel. When they broadcast an HD programme you can press the red button to view it. Wait for a few seconds for it to load. Not sure about recording though...

fitshase

Not sure if it matters but there is a difference between ITV HD and ITV1 HD so be careful when reading about getting ITV HD and make sure it is ITV1 HD (which is the simulcast of ITV in HD as opposed to ITV HD which is selected programmes in HD). Probably won't matter at World Cup time as I'm sure ITV will put the match on ITV HD and ITV1 HD.

sammi22

Thanks for the information guys. Think I will refer the man to the pub, we live in a flat and are only allowed to have a satellite dish if it is agreed by all residents and is paid for and used communally.

thor

I am not a big fan of HD and don't think the increase in quality is all that but other members of my family disagree and would like me to get some HD channels.
Currently I have virginmedia, sky and an integrated freeview tv(sony bravia). Now I am ruling out the first two because it means I would have to shell out some cash and I don't think it is worth the money. I am wondering though if it is possible for the freeview to have HD channels because I assume I would be able to view them directly. If not now then is this a possibility for the future once analogue is switched off releasing more bandwidth for freeview?