ITV boss demands Freeview HDTV
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Michael Grade wants to bring HDTV to Freeview claiming Ofcom plan will bring an "HD divide" between viewers.
Speaking to the "Voice of the Viewer and Listener" (founded by the late infamous Mary Whitehouse), Mr Grade, the current ITV and ex BBC boss said "bidding in an open market could create an "HD divide" between viewers.
ITV is part of the HDforAll campaign along with BBC, Channel 4, Sony, Samsung and the Dixons want some of the airwaves freed up by digital switchover to be used to provide HDTV (as in the US), not sold off to the highest bidder HDTV Freeview not another stealth tax imposed via mobile phone companies.
"We have a long and most honourable tradition in the UK of ensuring that everyone has access to the same quality of broadcasting and to the main public service broadcasting channels," Mr Grade said, "Indeed that is precisely what digital switchover seeks to achieve. Closing the door to HD on Freeview would undermine that principle," he added calling it "an own goal".
More airspace will be available after switchover because digital broadcasting is roughly six times more efficient than analogue.
Viewers of paid-for satellite and cable services already have access to HDTV - provided users have the proper equipment - but Freeview viewers require more bandwidth.
HDTV is a format that promises improved pictures and audio, with widescreen broadcasts.
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