• Subscribe to our Daily News Emails
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

High water mark

November 23, 2007 06.52 Europe/London By Julian Clover

UK broadcasters have admitted there is capacity for HD over the DTT system, writes Julian Clover

High definition television is coming to Freeview after all. The four established broadcasters announced this week that they would launch HD services on the UK digital terrestrial network using capacity freed up following digital switchover. This would mean not only BBC HD, but also ITV, Channel 4 and in time Five.

It is a climb-down for the broadcasters who had said that it was essential that the digital dividend be used to provide them with further gifted capacity in order to launch the services and ensure that terrestrial only viewers did not become second-class citizens.

Instead the broadcasters have listened to Ofcom, which despite initially failing to get its message through both publicly and privately had at least found a solution using the new technologies of DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 in order to use the existing spectrum. The solution will presumably also allow the dividend to be realised for the treasury, telco operators bidding for additional spectrum, and at the same time satisfying calls from European Commissioner Vivienne Reding to bring in new technologies.

The once high profile HD4all campaign that had brought together manufacturers and broadcasters to lobby Ofcom for capacity has been conspicuous by its absence. After a spurt of lobbying at the start of the year there has been little from the organisation since the spring. When we checked the website to see if we had missed anything we found that it had even been removed from the server. The manufacturers will now have the opportunity to upgrade the British public’s HD Ready displays with new set-top boxes, modules and in time integrated HD receiver/displays.

One is left wondering as to whether the BBC’s proposal’s to timeshift HD programmes onto push VOD the night before their network transmission were in fact drawn up by the Light Entertainment department.

Ofcom has made no secret of its plans, most recently signalled by the organisation’s chief executive at the Ofcom Annual Lecture, at the Westminster Forum in October. Rather than admit they were wrong that there was no room for HD within the existing spectrum – and it’s hardly that DVB-T2 was a secret – the announcement was clearly timed to steal the regulator’s thunder.

Despite the plans for DTT, Sky and potentially cable will keep the edge on HDTV, not just on multichannel services but also terrestrial broadcasts. How long will the BBC and ITV be satisfied with just one HD channel? Over time the amount of HD content will surely grow. Take the Wimbledon tennis championships, so often at the centre of new TV technologies. Will the BBC be satisfied with transmitting just one HD feed when there are HD cameras on each of the courts simultaneously serving overseas broadcasters? ITV2 and BBC Three both run, or preview, programmes that are available in HD. As sure as DTT has become the dominant distribution platform in the UK, then HD will follow.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Related

Filed Under: Clover's Week Edited: 26 December 2007 17:13

Avatar photo

About Julian Clover

Julian Clover is a Media and Technology journalist based in Cambridge, UK. He works in online and printed media. Julian is also a voice on local radio. You can talk to Julian on X @julianclover, or by email at jclover@broadbandtvnews.com.

Latest News

  • Must carry introduced for Flemish media apps
  • Icelandic partnership between Síminn and HBO
  • Italy’s Piracy Shield could breach EU Digital Services Act
  • Two arrested in Midlands streaming investigation 
  • ProSiebenSat.1 secures Hollywood content deal with NBC Universal

Most Popular

  • Italy’s Piracy Shield could breach EU Digital Services Act
    Italy’s Piracy Shield could breach EU Digital Services Act
  • Prime Video to distribute france.tv channels and content
    Prime Video to distribute france.tv channels and content
  • Icelandic partnership between Síminn and HBO
    Icelandic partnership between Síminn and HBO
  • ProSiebenSat.1 secures Hollywood content deal with NBC Universal
    ProSiebenSat.1 secures Hollywood content deal with NBC Universal
  • DAZN picks up international rights to Serie A 
    DAZN picks up international rights to Serie A 
  • Must carry introduced for Flemish media apps
    Must carry introduced for Flemish media apps
  • Two arrested in Midlands streaming investigation 
    Two arrested in Midlands streaming investigation 

White Paper

Eutelsat planning capital increase to become European Starlink

The French state has bolstered its take in Eutelsat as part of a €1.35 billion capital increase. … [Download the White Paper ...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Editorial

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Commercial

Arundel View Cottage
Wepham
West Sussex
BN18 9RA
sales@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2025 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.