BBC Two HD Channel to launch 26th March 2013
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV As part of the DQF process of BBC cuts, the BBC HD channel is being replaced by BBC TWO HD. This will be a UK-wide service and will not have the occasional BBC Two opt-outs and presentation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
BBC TWO HD will be 102 on Freeview HD, 169 on Sky HD and 109 on Freesat HD. The channel won't "HD auto swap" to 102 on Sky.
Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two, said "BBC One HD has already proved to be highly valued by our audiences and I’m delighted that we’re able to follow this with the launch of BBC Two in HD. The launch of BBC Two HD will allow us to showcase more of our programmes at their very best – helping to highlight our commitment to high quality, engaging and ambitious programmes on BBC Two."
The BBC Two HD channel will be a simulcast network version of the BBC Two England schedule with a raft of new programmes available in HD for the first time including Paul Hollywood - Bread, The Fall, Science Britannica and Keeping Britain Alive as well as old programmes such as Mock The Week, QI and Springwatch.
The BBC HD channel launched in December 2007 and was the UK's first free-to-air, high-definition television channel. Since its launch, the BBC HD channel has broadcast a stand-alone schedule of BBC High Definition output from across the portfolio.
| Whenever i watch moving sport especially football I experience much poorer pictu | 1 |
2:16 PM
M. Toft: Are you blind or did you not read the article before you commented?
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3:49 PM
I notice that on the BBC HD channels on Freesat there is digitext (whatever they call teletext now). However there doesn't appear to be any on the respective channels on Freeview apart from subtitles. Can you tell me why this is? It is really very irritating having to retune back to the same channels on SD if I wish do this.
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John Gleeson: The reason is capacity. In order for the text to be available on HD services it would also need to be carried on the HD multiplex (PSB3/BBCB) as well as the standard definition one (PSB1/BBCA).
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John Gleeson: I am not so sure that it is due to capacity, but it is certainly the case that it would need to be carried on the HD mux as well as the SD one.
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6:06 PM
Llandrindod Wells
Thank goodness BBC 2 HD will NOT carry regional programmes. I'm fed up with the way the BBC in Wales cut and carve mainstream programmes to show rugby, more rugby then old welsh greats playing.....you've guessed it....rugby!!!
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Mike's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:12 AM
Mike T: Eventually, when all Freeview transmissions are DVB-T2 the SD version of BBC2 will be discontinued, so it is reasonable to assume that the HD version will then carry national variations.
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3:22 PM
This is a considerable downgrade on the existing service where BBC HD carries BBC2 programmes which benefit from HD and supplement them with HD items from elsewhere such as BBC3/4 - often at alternative viewing times.
The cost savings can't be great and it is galling to lose service when money continues to be poured into BBC Alba showing bagpipe music to a handful of viewers. This panders to a Scottish nationalist agenda not supported by most residents of UK or of Scotland.
To those Freesat users suffering from poor regional offerings (eg too much rugby in Wales, no ITV HD in Scotland) I strongly recommend the simple trick of using an alternative postcode in your Freesat box.
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7:54 PM
Dorchester
AncientFootsteps: While I agree with the general point you make about losing BBC4 output from HD - a point I made in an earlier post - I suspect that you haven't viewed much of BBC Alba's output. Stumbling across some programmes originally, we now find several of interest and we are definitely not Scottish. For example, yesterday there was a fascinating programme on Harry Ferguson (of tractor fame) and the struggles he had with Henry Ford to get him interested in his groundbreaking developments; the day before there was an interesting interview with renowned Scottish actor, Bill Paterson. There are also regular programmes featuring the Scottish landscape with stunning helicopter shots. These programmes are in Gaelic but with English sub-titles. We now, somewhat surprisingly I have to admit, search out these Alba gems. A bonus is that they are presented in a straightforward way without the superficial triviality, crassness and "dumbing-down" style of much mainstream programming. I have to admit that I originally regarded BBC Alba in the way you do but have since greatly revised my opinion. Give Alba a go - you might be surprised, as we were.
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Tony's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
1:44 PM
Yes, I totally agree that many of the programmes on BBC Alba are a lot more interesting than the general fair that the other broadcasters feel they want you to see. As well as that, almost all the programmes apart from the children's programmes can still be enjoyed by the majority as they are mostly subtitled in English.
Another very interesting thing I've noticed about BBC Alba is the use of the 24 hour clock to show the times of the programmes like they tend to do on the continent, unlike the rest of the UK TV & Radio services which still chooses to use AM & PM. Why do we still do it? What is the problem with using the 24 hour clock, less confusing? The EPG's use the 24 hour clock format, so does the clock on your computer. Wake up Britain! Power to BBC Alba I say.
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2:03 PM
Ireturned a Silvercrest hd satellite receiver to Lidl under 3 year warranty as Hd reception was none existant.I purchased a XORO 8350 satellite reciver and installed it for reception of Astra 1&2.Perfect HD reception of all HD channels from from both satellite groups.
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