Ilse Howling
Freeview has confirmed that its new HD service is on track to reach 50% of the UK by the time the World Cup gets underway in June. Channel 4 HD and in Wales S4C Clirlun will join existing channels BBC HD and ITV1 HD.
Although HD signals have been present on the UK terrestrial system since last December, today marks the official launch of the service, complete with a £6 million marketing campaign that gets underway over Easter. The first of a series of eight ads will break on Saturday April 3 and run through until the World Cup, before returning ahead of Christmas. The ‘Great Combinations’ campaign allows scenes from everyday TV programmes are combined with backdrops of established, epic visuals, related to HD.
From tomorrow (Wednesday) around 4.5 million homes will be covered by Freeview HD for the first time. This includes the cities of Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff.
Commenting on today’s launch announcement, Ilse Howling, Managing Director of Freeview, said: “Freeview is taking the experience of stunning HD to a new level of access and availability. Our high definition service offers many of the UK’s favourite shows in glorious high definition and as always with Freeview, you just need to buy the equipment and there’s no contract or monthly bills. And with the World Cup just around the corner, there is no better time for viewers to embrace High Definition TV.”
Wales will tomorrow become the first nation in the United Kingdom to switch to all digital. The Welsh language HD channel S4C Clirlun will go on-air on April 30, replacing Channel 4 HD in Wales.
A number of manufacturers have already committed to the supply of Freeview HD boxes and Freeview HD TVs. These include Sony, Panasonic, Humax, Bush and ADB. Prices of Freeview HD boxes start from £99, Freeview HD TVs from £480 and Freeview+ HD boxes are expected to cost from £250.
About Julian Clover
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.