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Which channels broadcast in SD, if any?

I am keen to buy a new TV, but read a thread from 2017 which said that SD signals would look worse on new (larger?) TVs for some reason. There is no point spending money on a TV for a worse result, so:

I watch mainly Freeview channels and the main broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5). Do these - or any others - broadcast only in SD? (I doubt it.)
If not, will a new TV automatically detect the 'best' signal giving the best picture?

Sorry for this low-level query.
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Comments

  • debitcardmayhem
    debitcardmayhem Posts: 13,091 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 29 November 2018 at 8:35PM
    Dai_Thomas wrote: »
    I am keen to buy a new TV, but read a thread from 2017 which said that SD signals would look worse on new (larger?) TVs for some reason. There is no point spending money on a TV for a worse result, so:

    I watch mainly Freeview channels and the main broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5). Do these - or any others - broadcast only in SD? (I doubt it.)
    If not, will a new TV automatically detect the 'best' signal giving the best picture?

    Sorry for this low-level query.
    All of them , there are very few HD channels depending which transmitter you get signal from, but my telly works fine with SD and HD(edited my Kitchen cannot get good HD but that is down to the distribution in the home, which I am trying to rectify)
    https://www.freeview.co.uk/ tells you more
    This site is very informative too http://www.aerialsandtv.com/
    4.8kWp 12x400W Longhi 9.6 kWh battery Giv-hy 5.0 Inverter, WSW facing Essex . Aint no sunshine ☀️ Octopus gas fixed dec 24 @ 5.74 tracker again+ Octopus Intelligent Flux leccy
  • Inner_Zone
    Inner_Zone Posts: 2,856 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    The Freeview website lists all the channels SD and HD.


    SD will look poor on a UHD / 4K TV but reasonably watchable on a HD TV.


    The TV won't select the best picture you have to do that by channel number.
  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871 Forumite
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    The vast majority of channels are SD with currently about 15 HD channels. SD channels look fine on larger tvs, they're just not as good as HD.
    SD channels 1,2,3,4 and 5 are broadcast as 101, 102, 103 etc in HD. My tv doesn't select the HD equivalent but I wish it would.
  • The vast majority of channels are SD with currently about 15 HD channels. SD channels look fine on larger tvs, they're just not as good as HD.
    SD channels 1,2,3,4 and 5 are broadcast as 101, 102, 103 etc in HD. My tv doesn't select the HD equivalent but I wish it would.
    Swap your channel numbers ...simples:cool:
    4.8kWp 12x400W Longhi 9.6 kWh battery Giv-hy 5.0 Inverter, WSW facing Essex . Aint no sunshine ☀️ Octopus gas fixed dec 24 @ 5.74 tracker again+ Octopus Intelligent Flux leccy
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,492 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    It depends how big your "larger" TV is. I can't tell the difference between SD & HD on mine from where I sit.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • Norman_Castle
    Norman_Castle Posts: 11,871 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Swap your channel numbers ...simples:cool:
    Tedious chore every time there's a retune.
  • ballyblack
    ballyblack Posts: 5,153 Forumite
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    I have noticed on my Sky Q box Ch101 is BBC HD but on Ch102 its BBC2 SD

    Have to scroll down to ch 115 to get BBC2 HD

    Why is this? There seems no way to change channel numbers except by adding to favourites
  • mksysb
    mksysb Posts: 425 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It's the other way round, CH101 is BBC1 SD and 102 is BBC2 HD. I believe it's an ofcom ruling that says channels 1 to 4 have to carry local news and BBC1 can't yet do local news in HD
  • ballyblack
    ballyblack Posts: 5,153 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    mksysb wrote: »
    It's the other way round, CH101 is BBC1 SD and 102 is BBC2 HD.

    I have checked!

    In my region its
    ch101 BBC1 HD
    Ch102 is BBC2 SD
    Ch 115 BBC2 HD
  • ballyblack wrote: »
    I have checked!

    In my region its
    ch101 BBC1 HD
    Ch102 is BBC2 SD
    Ch 115 BBC2 HD

    Exactly what it is (and should be) on my box.
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