BBC Olympics in HD on Freesat
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be the first ever to be broadcast in high definition (HD), Freesat announced today.
The BBC HD channel, available on Freesat, the free-to-air satellite TV service (on channel 108) will be extending its regular transmission times to broadcast around 300 hours of HD coverage of the games which will offer viewers picture clarity five times that of standard definition (SD) TV.
In order to view the Olympics in HD on Freesat, viewers will need an HD ready television, as well a Freesat HD digital box or a Panasonic PZ81 Viera HD TV with Freesat HD built in. Manufacturers of Freesat HD digital boxes include Humax, Goodmans, Grundig and Bush.
Commenting on the Olympics being broadcast in high definition on BBC HD channel, Emma Scott, MD of Freesat said; "The Olympics is the ultimate global sporting event, and viewers will be astounded by the quality of the BBC's HD footage; every drop of water falling off the oars of a rower to the sand erupting from the long jump pit will be beautifully clear. At Freesat, we're committed to bringing brilliant HD programming to as many UK viewers as possible, for free. The scope of BBC's HD coverage of the Beijing Olympics is testament to the exciting future of HD broadcasting in this country."