The BBC Trust has given its approval for the BBC HD channel, some 18 months after the experimental service first launched. It follows the so-called Public Value Test that looked at the service’s position in the market and value to licence fee payers.
“We are delighted that the BBC Trust has approved the BBC Executive’s high definition television proposals, allowing us to launch the UK’s first free-to-air, mixed-genre public service HDTV channel,” said BBC director general Mark Thompson. Presumably BBC HD will become ‘official’ ahead of the December launch of Channel 4 HD.
BBC HD will continue to be available on satellite and cable with plans to add internet and terrestrial delivery. It will also be a part of the Freesat free-to-air satellite platform scheduled to launch next spring.