Five HD has launched on the Sky Digital and Virgin Media networks. The RTL-owned channel had previously shunned the offer of capacity on the UK terrestrial platform Freeview HD. Five, the last of the UK legacy broadcasters to launch a high definition channel, will broadcast a simulcast of its main channel featuring a mix of US drama and UK-originated series.
Charles Constable, Five’s Director of Strategy, said: “We broadcast so many high quality series shot in HD, such as Don’t Stop Believing and our line-up of great US dramas, so our schedule is really suited to fantastic picture quality. Five HD is a great addition to our channel portfolio.”
Playout for the channel will be handled by Red Bee Media, which already takes care of multichannels Fiver and Five USA as well as Demand Five and metadata services. Content is being prepared for Five by ITFC with the majority of HD content running in primetime and the remainder being upscaled.