UPDATED 15/2. British broadcaster Channel 4 has started transmitting its HD simulcast unencrypted on Astra at 28.2 degrees East. Channel 4 HD was originally meant to stop its coded broadcasts in April, when the channel will join the Freesat bouquet.
UPDATE – Readers report that Channel 4 HD is once again encrypted. Official FTA ytransmissions will start in April.
On 10 December 2007, Channel 4 launched a HD simulcast of Channel 4 on the Sky+ HD platform after British Sky Broadcasting agreed to contribute toward the channel’s satellite distribution costs. As a result, the HD version of the channel was only available to Sky subscribers, unlike the main SD service from Channel 4, which is part of the free-to-air Freesat bouquet.
There are now five FTA HD channels available on Astra at 28.2 degrees East, BBC One HD, BBC HD, ITV HD, Luxe TV HD and Channel 4 HD.
Channel 4 HD launched on the digital terrestrial platform Freeview HD on March 30, 2010.
As with most simulcasts of SD channels, only parts of the programming is in native HD, with the remainder being upscaled to HD resolution.
