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3 Freeview HD channels will start 2009

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five and Ofcom are set to announce Freeview HD today.

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five and Ofcom are set to announce Fre
Published on by on UK Free TV

Today will see the unveiling of a www.ukfree.tv link icon radical plan that will transform Freeview into a High Definition television platform by Christmas 2009 as exclusively revealed by UK Free TV one month ago.

The plan will bring a nine-hour peak-time www.ukfree.tv link icon BBC high definition channel, plus one from ITV and Channel 4 to every home in the United Kingdom, with another from five in 2012.

The public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and five) will sign an agreement to the plan today, and Ofcom will issue an immediate consultation, which can be found at www.ofcom.org.uk link icon Ofcom Consultations - Consultation Documents - The Future of DTT .

By using MPEG4 (part 10) and 256QAM transmission mode, this new DVB-T2 plan will push aside the www.ukfree.tv link icon Sky Picnic plan but the new configuration will mean that the www.ukfree.tv link icon Freeview Lite relay transmitters will not be providing More 4, E4, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV.

However, it may now be possible for Sky to also to convert the second commercial multiplex to a subscription high definition service, perhaps with Sky One HD, Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Movies Premier HD, whilst carrying the ITV2+1 and E4+1 channels using DVB-T2.

It is not clear yet if the existing 80 Freeview transmitters will change modes before switchover, or if viewers will have to wait for the rolling switchover programme.

Once switchover is complete, it is possible that more HD multiplexes will be possible, potentially using "single frequency networks" that could bring another 20 HD TV channels.



This will allow, by 2017, the eventual conversion of all the Freeview transmission to high definition. In ten years, it expected that the entire Freeview service could be transformed to high definition.

See also: www.guardian.co.uk link icon  Broadcasters agree Freeview HD plan

Ofcom's questions are:

  • 1: which services are most likely to drive take up of DTT consumer reception equipment using new technologies? In particular, are HD services the most likely to do so?
  • 2: do you agree with Ofcoms assessment that it would be beneficial for the DTT platform to begin to upgrade to new technologies DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 - to make more efficient use of spectrum and to allow for the introduction of new services?
  • 3: Ofcom is particularly interested in hearing from multiplex operators and programme providers as to whether they are interested in using DVB-T2 and / or MPEG-4, and whether Ofcom should consider permitting their use on DTT?
  • 4: do you agree that the earliest possible availability and adoption of the technologies is in the interests of consumers and citizens?
  • 5: do you agree with Ofcoms view that DVB-T2 MPEG-4 reception equipment could be commercially available in time for DSO in Granada region in late 2009? Question 6: do you agree that some form of intervention is required in order for the DTT platform to commence an upgrade to new technologies without delay?
  • 7: Do you have any proposals for launching MPEG-4 services on a DTT multiplex using DVB-T in advance of the proposed 2009 timetable and if so can you provide details of how such a service would not undermine the proposed MPEG-4/DVB-T2 launch in 2009?
  • 8: do you agree with Ofcoms proposed approach for adding SD and HD versions of MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 profiles to the list of permitted standards for DTT in the spring, and that Ofcoms consent must be sought prior to adoption of these standards?
  • 9: do you agree with Ofcoms proposal that Multiplex B should be cleared and upgraded to new technologies?
  • 10: do you agree with Ofcoms proposal that all multiplexesshould be required to upgrade to 64QAM at DSO in order to make the most efficient use of spectrum (ie that the mode change should not merely be optional)?
  • 11: do you agree with our proposals for accommodating Five, S4C, TG4 and GDS on Multiplex 2? 96
  • 12: do you agree with our assessment that nine SD services can operate on Multiplex 2? If not, do you have an alternative proposal?
  • 13: do you agree with our proposals for the reorganisation process for the existing multiplex services set out in the central case scenario?
  • 14: do you agree with the principles / conditions that Ofcom proposes to use to evaluate counterproposals for the reorganisation process?
  • 15: Do you have an alternative proposal for the reorganisation process? If yes, please provide details.
  • 16: do you agree with Ofcoms assessment of the options for allocating the upgraded capacity?
  • 17: do you agree with the proposal that HD broadcasting on the DTT platform should use the more efficient progressive format, rather than the interlaced format?
  • 18: do you agree with the proposal that Ofcom should not mandate the use of the capacity for any particular service type (SD or HD) but allow the broadcasters to make proposals?
  • 19: do you agree with the proposal that the capacity should be allocated in three UK-wide blocks initially, rising to four blocks at DSO?
  • 20: do you agree with the proposed criteria for the comparative selection process?
  • 21: do you have any comments on Ofcoms proposals for the upgraded multiplex?
  • 22: Do you agree with Ofcoms impact assessment?
  • 23: Do you agree with Ofcoms assessment of the potential benefits, risks and mitigations strategies relating to the impact of these proposals on the DSO programme?






Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom


Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Dean Ensor
Thursday 22 November 2007 2:04PM
I hope we will not need another set-top box and tv to recieve service I have not had st-top box long , The Tv companies cannot not expect viewers to pay up everytime Freeview expands and a new set top box is required I mean switchover has only just started, I hope they have thought of this and Iam sure some viewers if nwe box is required will not bother getting HD service
Ian
Thursday 22 November 2007 2:20PM
The whole didgital switchover has been very badly planed in this country.
alexander
Thursday 22 November 2007 6:38PM
Issue each of the Broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Five) one HD multiflex each so that a large number of channels can be duplicated into HD. BBC3, BBC4 and ITV4 can be broadcast in 24/7 mode, and Five can make an extra channel.
Briantist
Thursday 22 November 2007 6:47PM
Dean Ensor: If you want to watch HDTV transmissions, you will need a new box. You will not have any service reduction with an existing box or idTV until around 2012. Your existing box doesn't support MPEG4 or DVB-T2, and it is not possible to upgraded existing chip-sets.
Briantist
Thursday 22 November 2007 6:48PM
Ian: How so?
Briantist
Thursday 22 November 2007 6:58PM
alexander: Ofcom will not issue the frequencies to the broadcasters for such services.
Disserviced
Thursday 22 November 2007 9:53PM Peebles
What implications does this have for those of us who have our analogue service turned off before Christmas 2009? Cough up for a digibox this time next year, and then do the same again a year later?
We will get half a service for just over a year, and then loose 5 channels just so that folk who want their telly to dominate their living rooms get a better picture. Its enough to make one a luddite.
Ian
Thursday 22 November 2007 10:36PM
The low powerd service has been draged out for 10 years plus, where as in other countrys people were given between 6 and 12 months to go digital. The service has constanly been fidled with causing confusion and miss information.

Briantist
Friday 23 November 2007 6:33AM
Disserviced: There will be no loss of services for existing Freeview boxes. All of the current channels will be moved to five multiplexes in 64QAM mode.
Briantist
Friday 23 November 2007 6:34AM
Ian: No country has done it in "6 to 12 months" and no other country has a terrestrial broadcast system like the UK.
Disserviced
Sunday 25 November 2007 8:14PM Peebles
Briantist: Am I missing something? Most of Borders is served by relays, and I understand these won't get the full service. Are we not now going to get More 4, E4, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV at switch off in 2008, or will we still have More 4, E4, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV once HD starts in 2009?
Sorry if I'm being dull. D
Briantist
Sunday 25 November 2007 10:04PM
Disserviced: There are a number of possible options. One is that non-public service channels will be moved to the COM multiplexes, the other will reduce the bit-rate (and hence quality) of the SD services, but will keep these channels on the PSB multiplexes. Perhaps a bit of both.
richard
Saturday 8 December 2007 7:56PM Wakefield
Ofcom I think have lost the plot here, they should get DSO done first and then change over to Mpeg4 and DVB-T2,they are just going to get everyone confused.The BSB's are launching HD channels on Freesat early next year,and those channels will be more or less full time, where as if they launch on freeview in 2009 they will only be on for a few hours,and many people will loose out on SD channels, and ofcoms plan also has to have Sky's Picnic pay service in place as they plan to use there stream in Mpeg4 to put the missing channels in, but Picnic has not been given approval yet,or has it.
Briantist
Sunday 9 December 2007 3:31PM
richard: Sky's Picnic will not be approved. BSB was merged into Sky about 15 years ago... not sure what you mean...
richard
Monday 10 December 2007 10:49PM Wakefield
I made a spelling mistake, I meant PSB's (BBC ITV CH4).
Paul
Tuesday 11 December 2007 11:40PM Dudley
Ok if HD means a new set top box, how about those of us with HDTV's with built in freeview?

Does this mean a new TV or an additional box?
Briantist
Wednesday 12 December 2007 9:06AM
Paul: A new box.
clive
Tuesday 1 January 2008 1:10PM
@Briantist:Thanks for your excellent technical input on this site. As I'm just in the process of selecting a new LCD TV, the HD Freeview tuner issues have stopped me in my tracks. I like everyone else would prefer to have fully integrated solution, an additional set top box is not for me. I don't see any of the top end TV manufacturers building in any forward compatibility for MPEG4 & DVB-T2 (or do you know of one?). They want to sell us big TV's now (and last year for footie World Cup) and from the timing the next big push will be London 2012 Olympics - Chuck those "old" sets away because you now need a "full" HDTV to cheer on our medal hopefuls. That's market forces
bongo bongo
Sunday 6 January 2008 11:18PM
you can find rips of hd/bluray movies at 720p that fit within a 4gb file using h.264, i.e not much higher bitrate than the current mpeg2 broadcasts on freeview. Why don't they stop messing around and just migrate everything to this hidef format, looking maybe tp upgrade to 1080p 5 years down the line if there's a call for it. There's too many half way houses, stop that it's silly.
Geoff. Dixon
Saturday 2 February 2008 9:29PM
OFCom HD TV and DVB-T2:-The closing date for comments (30/01/08) has now passed. As soon as a decision is reached, I'm sure all those contributors to this page would like to know the outcome. Please .... If anyone has information on what was decided we would ALL like to know what is happening.
Briantist
Saturday 2 February 2008 10:25PM
Geoff. Dixon: We will see. I suspect it might, no-one has had a word against it.
Mark
Sunday 24 February 2008 2:57AM Weston-super-mare
17: do you agree with the proposal that HD broadcasting on the DTT platform should use the more efficient progressive format, rather than the interlaced format?

HDTV's store the incoming data in a digital frame store anyway. Overall, the total amount of data is about the same - the debate should be which gives a better picture for the viewer.
Briantist
Tuesday 26 February 2008 7:21AM
Mark: In fact it doesn't work out that way. Progressive is done like a movie camera with a set of static pictures, whereas interlaced is done does top-bottom-top over the period of the frame. For this reason you get a "blur" on a static frame, and this generates more data when MPEG2/4 compression is done to the data.
Phil Smith
Thursday 27 March 2008 4:45PM
Just caught your site. I have a new panasonic tv which has DVB-T2 installed! Will I be able to receive the new HD transmissions from Winter Hill when and if they start without another box?
Briantist
Thursday 27 March 2008 5:01PM
Phil Smith: Which model of TV is that? I didn't think the standard had been finialized!
Geoff.Dixon
Monday 31 March 2008 5:38PM
Briantist: Re DVB-T2 Please see:- www.broadcastnow.co.uk link icon 
DTG to scrutinise Ofcom plans for HD Freeview
 I am still very unsure of what is REALLY happening at the moment. Do you have any up-to-date information ? As I indicated earlier on another UK Free TV site, (Windermere Transmitter area I think), I can't see all this taking place at the same time as the switchover and Regional re-organisation.
Briantist
Monday 31 March 2008 6:08PM
Geoff.Dixon: The standard has not been approved, the BBC have not agreed to give up lots of bandwidth, it is all 'up in the air' at the moment. The system design is not THAT complicated, 128QAM mode is in use for digital TV transmission in the US (will be the only standard soon), MPEG4 makes sense for any new broadcasts. However, it can ONLY take place at switchover as it will be take the place of multiplex PSB3. Not sure what you mean by 'Regional re-organisation' though. The biggest problem would be the further drop in picture quality for the existing services. No doubt this will be described by the newspapers as some grand conspiracy to make people buy HD boxes if they don't like blurry football matches.
Gary Holmes
Monday 31 March 2008 7:10PM
In simple terms, how many SD channels would have to be sacrificed to make way for one HD Channel ??

As we have all seen, multiple channels does not add quality. I guess I have about 45 TV channels broadcast on Freeview and watch maybe 7 regularly and 15 in total. As the 5 terrestial PSB frequencies get switched over to digital, surely the way forward is to have no more than 70 channels, 10 Primary channels BBC, ITV, SKY etc that can broadcast in HD, alongside SD programs, Movie and Sport & Discovery type channels to broadcast in HD then the others need only be Standard. Do I need to watch archive TV programming in spectacular clear resolution, when its a 1980's episode of Minder ??

Also can we not clear the way by taking off QVC and PriceDrop and all these other nonsense channels that serve only to cheapen to value of multi-channel TV
Briantist
Monday 31 March 2008 7:51PM
Gary Holmes: The answer is between 5 and 8 for 2 or 3 HD channels, see the graphics in www.ukfree.tv link icon The "secret" Ofcom plan for Freeview HDTV: DVB-T2 | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 . You are right, there could be more Freeview multiplexes, but Ofcom has been tasked to take the TV airwaves that belong to us all and sell them off. The shopping channels cannot be 'taken off'. They have paid for their slots in a free market, you can't do things like that.
Geoff. Dixon
Monday 31 March 2008 8:42PM
Briantist: DVB-T2 etc.
Thank you for confirmation that this is STILL in 'the melting pot'.
Terminology has never been my strong point - for Re-organisation read 'Regional Consolidation'... or whatever it is really called. I was referring to the amalgamation of the regions. 'Border' to 'Border England' to 'Border Tyne Tees' etc.
Again, thank you for the quick response and an easy to understand reply. I like your "Up in the air" pun.
Briantist
Monday 31 March 2008 9:00PM
Geoff. Dixon: The old ITV regions will still exist in some form because their amagamation by ITV1 will be for regional news only, it will not effect the switchover order (Border is early, TTTV is last for example) and ITV1 will have to keep the regions for a while because of the needs of the advertising market. The BBC has no plans to scrap their regions, as they are quite similar to the ITV ones.
Geoff. Dixon
Monday 31 March 2008 9:27PM
Briantist: Regions etc.

Although I AM interested in the "local" Border situation, as I give advice locally to friends, in fact I receive my digital signals from Winter Hill/Lancaster (and because Granada will continue with a 6 multiplex system I intend to stay with Granada). However as I am so near to the Kendal transmitter, from what you say, I should be able to pick up local 'Border' news digitally even after switchover (on the same Group A aerial - as I do now via analogue). I'm still testing 4x Group 'A' aerials, 2x PVR's and 2 digiboxes and having fun as an amateur. Thanks
Briantist
Tuesday 1 April 2008 6:44AM
Geoff. Dixon: It isn't Granada that is sticking with six multiplexes, but the current 80 main transmitters. The commercial multiplex operators did not see fit to apply to extend their networks onto the other 1074 transmitters, due to the costs. As for aerial groups, yes, you can use group A aerials (for Winter Hill) - HOWEVER - after switchover is complete, there MAY be new television services using the old frequencies and it is quite likely that these will be single frequency networks. This means that if you don't have a wideband aerial after switchover you may not be able to get these services. Remember that the grouped aerials were added to the UHF system to deal with analogue interference problems. This issue is now dealt with by the COFDM digital transmission system, for digital grouped aerials bring no benefits and wideband aerials should be used to prevent having to buy one in the future.
Mark Barden
Wednesday 16 April 2008 12:57AM Gillingham
Now the standard for Freeview HD has been sorted out, why are there no TV and recorders selling in the UK with integrated HD freeview tuners built in. Manufacturers have been behaving like naughty schoolboys - only just offering enough to get the lowest passmark. I want to see less mickey taking with so called HD ready tv's and real HD ready, i.e. HD freeview tuners built in please. Let's get this digital revolution really started!
All purchasers should hold off buying new products until the manufacturers pull their thumbs out of bums!!!

Rant over.

Mark
Briantist
Wednesday 16 April 2008 6:24AM
Mark Barden: The DVB-T2 standard has not been even ratified, there are no chipsets for it for this reason (won't be until early 2009) and the first equipment (tester and early adopter) equipment will be very late 2009, and there will be stuff in the normal shops in late 2009. If everything works out.
Michael T HILL
Thursday 16 October 2008 1:14PM
are you going to open another film channels that we would like if so would you do it for those of us who like those old films. why can't you open uk TV History all day because this was agod channel when it was open all day when we call them they said that it's up to you to put it back as was before
so could you do so and why can't we have the history channel as well as this thank you

Michael HILL

Briantist
Friday 17 October 2008 12:13AM
Michael T HILL: With all-day Freeview slots costing £30m a year to rent, whoever takes any new slots, and they can't be created easily, will need to have a large audience.

If UKTV do get it, I would suspect they would stick the new Watch channel on ahead of UKTV History,

You might find a Freeview+ box handy as it is very easy to record the UKTV schedule (it's a loop) and watch it in the evening - and skip all the ads!
Matt
Monday 1 June 2009 4:18PM Mansfield
Very Confused I'm afraid? Are you a real person or a bot?
tinman
Tuesday 28 July 2009 2:33PM
does thie mean that after everyone throws their current gear into landfill and buys new hd stuff that we will have to do the same again when mpeg 5 services launch? Australia is already launching digital freeview tv in mpeg5 format capable equipment...?

And what about DAB+? It is coming soon and will make all existing dab only radios useless...more landfill....
Briantist
Wednesday 29 July 2009 8:32AM
tinman: There is no MPEG5 planned. The MPEG4 standard is the one being used.

You are confusing this with MHEG5, the service used on Freeview and Freesat to deliver text and interactive services.

You need no new equipment when Freeview HD starts, unless you want the HD service. The SD boxes will be good for a decade or so.

The UK will not be using DAB+
Jean Nickolds
Thursday 10 September 2009 8:49PM
I have a Sony Digital TV which was bought 6 years ago it is a 32inch Serial number 6000675 Model number KD-32DX100U
- I live at Mumbles and am served by the Wenvoe arial. I cannot get any analogue or digital services and Sony have told me to get a Digibox. Surely this isn't right? My system information is:- Version No. r350 (GB)
Loader:- v1.01
Briantist
Thursday 10 September 2009 9:25PM
Jean Nickolds: Yes, that device is listed www.ukfree.tv link icon TVs and boxes that do not support the 8k-mode | ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002 - you do need a Freeview box if you are in a switched-over area.

If you are not, are you connecting the set to a rooftop aerial?
JD
Monday 30 November 2009 12:47AM
I think that the whole switchover saga has been badly planned. For instance allot of rouge trader have been informing people that they need to switch-over to a digital aerial. In fact there is no such thing as an anolouge or digital aerial. The long and short of it is that if you have an aerial receiving a decent signal. Then you should be fine for the switchover. I have also been hearing stories that when the digital transmitter are turned on in France. That it will have a big negative impact on the south of england.
JD
Monday 30 November 2009 12:53AM
Also if I am allowed? I would like to recomend a good independat installer in the south of england. HSD Services you can google them or go to www.hsd-services.co.uk link icon HSD Services - Digital Aerial, Satellite & Audio-Visual Installation Professionals - Communal Systems, TV Mounting, Digital Radio, Freeview, Freesat, London, Essex, Kent.
Briantist
Monday 30 November 2009 8:05AM
JD: I've spent years explain that there is no such thing as a "digital aerial", but this isn't down to the planning, it is down to the usual unscrupulousness you find in the UK.

It is expected that when France switches to high power digital signals, this will be completely compatible with the UK transmissions, this is the point of our international agreements.
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