Freeview to get fifth HD channel, possibly by Christmas 2011
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV The BBC have undergone extensive subjective user testing with "a variety of HD content" and have concluded that the new version of the MPEG-4 (H.264) encoding software used for the Freeview HD multiplex can now handle five channels, up from the current four.
The material tested included:
- A loop of critical Saturday night programming, including very difficult to code sequences from BBC programmes;
- A combination of different sequences from the other Relevant PSBs;
- Live content;
- HD content from the last Olympics;
- Very hard to code sequences on four and then all five channels.
Ofcom is now satisfied that five HD services can be run on the "BBCB" DVB-T2 multiplex by spring 2012, and possibly before Christmas 2011. This is in line with Ofcom's original plan for Freeview HD.
The possible channels that are currently broadcasting could be one from ITV: ITV2 HD, ITV3 HD, ITV4 HD; one from Channel 4: E4 HD, Film4 HD; one from Channel 5: Channel 5 HD.
The other possible applicants are S4C, which is unlikely given the broadcasters funding crisis, STV and UTV have no broadcasting HD channels.
Most of the above HD channels are under "exclusive" contracts with Sky, with the exception of Film4 HD which is "exclusive" to Virgin Media. Five HD was assessed by the regulators as unsuitable for Freeview HD last year.
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Monday, 24 October 2011
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David9:26 AM
If they get it will they apply to be on Freesat as well?
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David: No one has to "apply" to be on Freesat, Channel 5 HD can be shown on Freesat at any time.
However, Sky have a signed an "satellite exclusive" deal with Channel 5 so the station will have to wait for that to expire before it can appear on Freesat.
However, also see 5* and 5USA coming to Freesat by Christmas | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
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David11:23 AM
That other thread appears to be SD and not HD though.
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David: Yes, but it does show that Channel 5 are taking capacity on Astra 1F.
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nick12:47 PM
for what it's worth my top of the line Panasonic TV gives out the same picture quality on freesat /free view irrespective if it's HD or not on all channels and even the DVD recorder is exactly the same
Personally i think HD is just a marketing ploy and has no real value
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David1:07 PM
Either the broadcaster not giving the best picture he could on HD or your set not as good as it should be.
My Panasonic Freesat HD TV is slightly better on HD than SD, but HD sound is at a lower level.
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Mike Dimmick2:16 PM
Briantist: The DTT Allocation Committee could still decide not to allocate any capacity this time around, but I think they'd have to have a very good reason for doing so.
This time, Channel 5 are offering a 24-hour simulcast of the Channel 5 Qualifying Service, although they do say "we wish to reserve the option of exploring possible ways for other providers to make use of some of the day time and late night hours". This was the sticking point last time, that they had said that 6am to 5pm would be an HD service provided by another broadcaster, without stating who that would be.
Of course, last time around, Five was still owned by RTL who were trying to get rid of it, while it's now owned by Richard Desmond's Northern and Shell.
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Mike Dimmick: And, of course, the channel is making a profit, rather than a loss, which did seem to be Ofcom's sticking point last time.
Hopefully the deal Sky did with RTL was only for a year because now we have ASTRA 1N satellite has entered commercial service | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice Channel 5 HD could also be on Freesat.
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David: You need to look closer, you can clearly see the difference between SD and HD.
The sound levels on HD are set lower as they do not use the "compression system" that SD uses, this is to provide a better overall experience.
The colours are much better in HD, the detail finer and most obvious of all is there are no artifacts and the pictures do not blur when in motion.
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