Winter Hill - switchover date confirmed
Ofcom have confirmed to me today that the Winter Hill switchover date has not been changed.
There was some consternation about the recent variation Ofcom licence for Multiplex B listing Winter Hill switchover date as March 2010.
This later date is a "backstop" date, in case there is a problem the licence will still be valid.
So, as before the Freeview HD service will start on Wednesday 2nd December 2009, the date that the analogue services are removed.
However, it is not now expected that the switched over Border and WestCountry transmitters will get Freeview HD at that time. The provisional schedule is for the HD service to start on these transmitter about 12 months after the switchover.
Any region that switches over after Granada will also have the Freeview HD service launch at the switch off.