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.
Help with High Definition?
| Whenever i watch moving sport especially football I experience much poorer pictu | 1 |
In this section
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
... it is probably worth noting that BBC HD already transmits BBC TWO HD almost all of the time it is on air.
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Scotland BBC TWO today has
07:50 08:10
Na Daoine Beaga
Series 2, An Traigh (The Beach)
3/18 Gaelic language fun, songs, stories and adventures in a magical land. (R)
08:10 08:15
Ag Ionnsachadh Le Blarag
Series 1, Detectibh Blarag: Daomhaireachd an Dathein Chaillte (Detective Connie: The Case of the Missing Flower)
2/22 Let's play detectives with Blarag, and help her find her grandma's favourite flower. (R)
08:15 08:20
Na Luchagan Fhiacla
An Siosair Oir (The Golden Scissor)
Gaelic children's programme. (R)
23:00 23:20
Newsnight Scotland
19/02/2013
Coverage of the day's national and international news stories, with Gordon Brewer.
23:20 00:20
Scottish Curling Championships
2013, Women's
Dougie Vipond presents highlights from the Dewars Centre in Perth.
BBC TWO NI has
18:30 19:00
Lu na Taln
Series 3, Episode 2
Mire Bhreathnach and Jarlath Burns tackle issues around rural life in Northern Ireland.
BBC TWO Wales
... nothing!
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David12:09 PM
Will it be like BBC1 HD and have a blank screen from time to time?
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David: I can't see why it would. Reading the explanation at the top of this page, BBC Two HD will be a simulcast of BBC Two England SD.
BBC One HD has a blank screen at times because there is only one variant for the whole of England, whereas BBC One SD has many. BBC Two SD has only one variant for England.
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David1:08 PM
Thanks Dave, ITV1 do not mess me around on their ITV1 HD they just give me a different region, more sensible that nothing.
One does think at times the BBC are in a world of their own and not in the real world.
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Peter Henderson1:20 PM
Newtownabbey
Well, at least here in Northern Ireland we'll have an alternative when BBC 2 NI goes off in a local tangent.
All we need now is a third BBC HD channels to cover BBC3/BBC4, in order to replace those that were on BBC HD, but I suppose that's wishful thinking especially if the BBC are doing this to make cuts.
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Peter's: mapP's Freeview map terrainP's terrain plot wavesP's frequency data P's Freeview Detailed Coverage
David: There is the issue of cost of producing separate feeds which is why both BBC and ITV regional channels do what they do.
In order for them to provide different feeds, they would need whatever equipment is required for each. However, most of the time they are all broadcasting the same, so that additional equipment will only be of benefit for short periods. Looking at it from a cost-benefit angle it doesn't make sense.
There is also the question of whether the regional programmes are shot using HD cameras, and if they are not then these will need to be upgraded.
At the moment, I can't see that there is a real benefit other than perhaps rectifying the terrible injustice that viewers face of having to switch channels. Or maybe they would prefer that the Licence Fee went up in order to fund different BBC One HD regions. Maybe they would be happy for ITV to be allowed to show more adverts in order to generate revenue to create more ITVHD regions...
So the cost to provide different HD regions will not just be that of the equipment to produce the feeds, but cameras and other studio equipment. Or to put it another way, if they don't upgrade the cameras, the HD feeds will just be filled with standard definition content.
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Peter Henderson: If you're lucky enough to be able to receive from Divis then you might get some more BBC HD channels:
Ten more HD channels on two new Freeview HD multiplexes on air from 2014-18 | Freeview news | ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice
As with anything these days, only believe it when it happens....
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Aerialman2:28 PM
To be honest,as a viewer i like more choice.That is why i prefer the present arrangement.
For example any new programme to BBC 2 is generally broadcast in HD and therefore simulcast with the BBC HD Channel.
However the HD Channel will air a different programme(in HD) if the scheduled BBC 2 programme is in SD,providing,obviously, more programme choice!
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David: In addition to what Dave Lindsay has posted, ITV is required to conform to certain rules when it comes to advertising, because of their market domination. It's called Contract Rights Renewal (CRR) - see CRR explained: how contract rights renewal binds ITV ad sales | Media | guardian.co.uk .
ITV has to show non-national adverts, as part of this legal remedy.
The only regional content in England the BBC has is the regional news slots, and none of the studios are equipped for HD. For this reasons the BBC isn't spending money on HD versions for the English regions where it will only deliver SD content.
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