The BBC has confirmed plans to introduce HD versions of BBC One in England for the first time.
Viewers connected to Freesat, Freeview, Sky and YouView devices will be able to watch their regional news programmes without the need to switch channels. BBC One HD currently shows a holding message whenever the regional news is broadcast – which can be up to 30 minutes after the flagship BBC News at 6.
The BBC says it’s aiming to complete the rollout of BBC One HD in England by April 2023. On satellite there will also be HD upgrades for BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC ALBA and BBC Parliament
The BBC already broadcasts BBC One in HD in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the digital terrestrial (Freeview, YouView) and digital satellite platforms (Sky, Freesat).
Kieran Clifton, BBC Director of Distribution said: “By Spring next year, viewers in England will be able to receive BBC One HD for their region and not have to tune away to watch their local news and programming. This, coupled with upgrades to BBC channels that aren’t currently available on some devices in HD, will mean viewers will get a more easily accessible, better quality experience when watching BBC programmes from early next year.”
Regional versions of BBC One HD are already available on newer internet-connected platforms including Sky’s Glass, Virgin Media Cable and Stream platforms and more recently BT’s TV Box Pro and TV Box Mini. However, the move means some local programmes will no longer be available in standard-definition.
The number of local news programmes is also being reduced with the closure of nightly shows from Cambridge and Oxford.
