free HDTV by 2012 unveiled

sco0ter

Just in case anybody was interested



TV viewers are to get free high definition channels by 2012 under new proposals.

HDTV would be available to every household via Freeview.
The timing would allow viewers to watch the London Olympics in the new format, which offers sharper images and richer colour.
The proposed upgrade was announced by media watchdog Ofcom.
It would begin in the Granada region as early as 2009 and then be rolled out across the UK by 2012.

Nearly 13 million homes already have Freeview, a digital terrestrial TV service available through an aerial and without subscription.
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "Our proposals to upgrade digital terrestrial television represent a major opportunity to build on its success with wider, richer and more varied television services, including the potential for HDTV to be made available to millions of people free to air."

The media regulator will now invite the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five and S4C to submit proposals explaining how these new channels would be used.
The Government would have final approval on the plans.
Viewers who wanted to access the new services would need to buy a new HDTV-compatible set-top box or an integrated television.

Poppycat

I am hoping HD with be available on Freesat the FTA service (similar to freeview but for satellites) when it launches next Spring assuming it isnt delayed again and they sort out how which codec they will use mpeg2 or mpeg4

roddydogs

Oh Goody only 4+ years to go, and you will need an HD Tele, plus a new Freeview Box!

sleep2much

like poppycat says, freesat not to be confused with freesat from sky, is due to launch in march next year with some HD channels. http://www.astra2d.com/freesat.htm

superscaper

roddydogs wrote: »

Oh Goody only 4+ years to go, and you will need an HD Tele, plus a new Freeview Box!

You don't "need" anything. It won't affect SD freeview channels which will still be available.

BexTech

Poppycat wrote: »

I am hoping HD with be available on Freesat the FTA service (similar to freeview but for satellites) when it launches next Spring assuming it isnt delayed again and they sort out how which codec they will use mpeg2 or mpeg4

It is already!

BBC HD has been there for sometime. Recently Luxe.TV too.

Other channels to join shortly, such as ITV HD.

The BBC/ITV Freesat is just a specification for new boxes, so they use a different EPG to Sky dodgy-boxes and different interactive system.

Nothing to do with which codec to use, as the BBC are already broadcasting using MPEG4 AVC, they aren't going to change to a codec Sky HD boxes won't work with, they aren't going to switch from MPEG4 to MPEG2 and use up more bandwidth, the codec they have been using for months and months is the codec it will stay at.

It's not going to be using any new satellites, it's the same channels on the same satellites as the Free To Air channels now, just using yet another box with a different EPG and different interactive.

I'm watching BBC HD & Luxe.TV Free To Air on satellite on a £62 PACE DS810XE Hi-Def satellite receiver bought of eBay brand-new. It will work with ITV HD at launch and with 4HD once they switch from Free To View (requiring a Sky HD box) to Free To Air viewable on any MPEG4 AVC Hi-Def satellite receiver like the one I have now or the BBC/ITV Freesat spec'd box.

The only issue with the satellite receiver I have is it uses a standard EPG whereas Sky boxes and the new Freesat boxes will use non-standard EPG so I only get now / next data.

This launch in March 2008 is just for boxes to be available, the 100+ SD channels will exactly the same as now, as they are the same, and the current FTA HD channels will be the same, as they are the same, plus when ITV and 4 launch FTA there'll be there, but then so will they on a Sky HD box or a standard HD satellite receiver, as the channels are on the Astra 2 satellites or Eutelsat satellites, so which ever box you have you'll pick up the channels, they aren't launching new satellites and having channels broadcast on different satellites, all it is is a spec for a box and a separate EPG stream (which is testing) for the BBC/ITV Freesat box, so they don't use the Sky EPG stream.

The Pace DS810XE

I thought at £62 I might as well have this until the Freesat spec box comes down in price to something reasonable.