BBC HD
| BBC HD | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | Trial: 15 May 2006 Full: 1 December 2007 |
| Owned by | BBC |
| Picture format | 16:9, 1080i (HDTV) |
| Website | http://www.bbc.co.uk/hd/ |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Freesat | Channel 108 |
| Sky HD | Channel 143 (IN H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) |
| Astra 2D | 10847V 22000 5/6 |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 108 (VIA V+) |
| Foxtel HD+ (Australia) |
Channel 203 |
BBC HD is the high-definition television channel launched by the BBC on a trial basis from 15 May 2006, with the first HD originated programme, Planet Earth, shown on 27 May.
The broadcasts are generally two to five hours per day, and include simulcasts with BBC channels, such as Michael Palin's New Europe and Hustle (also on BBC One), and replays of HD programmes such as Planet Earth, Bleak House, Torchwood, and Hotel Babylon. Live coverage of events such as The Proms, Wimbledon, the Eurovision Song Contest, the World Cup, and the Concert for Diana have already been shown, with the first live event to be broadcast being the opening game between Germany and Costa Rica which took place on 9 June 2006.
When high-definition programmes are not being shown, the channel broadcasts a looped preview containing clips from BBC HD programmes.
Initially the trial lasted 12 months, after which the BBC Trust agreed to a Public Value Test (PVT) which began on 21 May 2007 and the BBC extended its own HD trial, which was to end in June, until the end of the PVT process. It was announced on 19 November 2007 by the BBC Trust that following the PVT they had approved the BBC Executive's high definition television proposals to allow the launch of UK's first free-to-air, mixed-genre public service HD channel.[1]
BBC HD was moved from a trial service to a full service on 1 December 2007.
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Technical details and availability
BBC HD was first available to viewers of the Astra 2D satellite (Sky HD EPG No. 143) and Virgin Media cable service subscribers (EPG No. 108) with suitable reception equipment. The channel was also broadcast as a digital terrestrial (DVB-T) service from London's Crystal Palace Transmitter until May 2007, enabling the channel to be viewed by a selected trial group of 450 homes.
Both the satellite and terrestrial broadcasts were free to air, which means that anybody with the required equipment (for example, an adequately powerful personal computer with a DVB-S or DVB-T interface and suitable software) were able to view the channel during the trial. The broadcasts are typically at a resolution of 1440x1080, and encoded in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.
The BBC has, therefore, been the only terrestrial broadcaster so far to offer a "platform neutral" HD offering. ITV's trial HD channel was not available by satellite, but was carried on cable. Channel 4 and Five carried out broadcasts in HD, although these were very limited and only available as part of the closed Freeview trial in London.
The channel is not currently available via the digital terrestrial service. The BBC claims a lack of available bandwidth on this service.
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BBC HD service
The BBC has been approved to provide a service of nine hours per day, 15:00 to midnight, with some flexibility to extend beyond this to allow for the coverage of significant live sport or other events. The BBC Trust stated that the service should be available on cable and satellite as soon as the service licence was effective, and the channel had its official launch on 1 December 2007. The decision to provide an early Freeview four-hour overnight schedule has been put on hold with the preferred option being to provide the full nine-hour service as soon as possible, this will be reviewed in spring 2008 when there will be greater clarity over spectrum bandwidth and broadcast standards for DTTV.
The BBC HD channel will be a mixed-genre service. Its aim, as far as possible, will be to showcase programmes produced in HD from the schedules of other BBC channels. These will be broadcast in HD end-to-end, not converted from standard definition (SD). Any individual programme may contain up to 25 per cent of non-HD material converted from SD — for example, archive shots in a documentary.
The content will come from across the BBC's portfolio of television channels. It was found by the BBC Trust from the PVT that there was considerable support for BBC HD to show programmes in prime time that would most benefit from the uplift to HD, and not to be just a channel that would simulcast BBC One programmes at this time.
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Sports coverage
So far, the BBC has broadcast the 2006 World Cup, Wimbledon, Open Golf, England football internationals, action from the FA Cup and Six Nations rugby in high definition. The US Masters golf from Augusta National was screened in HD for the first time in 2007.
The Euro 2008 Championships are also being broadcast by the BBC.
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International
It was announced in September 2006 that BBC Worldwide plans to broadcast an international version of BBC HD in the near future. During the first broadcast of BBC World News America, it was announced that BBC America HD will be launched in 2008. No exact date is known as of now. In Australia, an Australian version of BBC HD will be broadcast on the Foxtel HD+ service to launch later in 2008. In late 2008 BBC HD will be also launched in Poland. It has been reported that it will focus on documentaries and drama.
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BBC HD preview trailer/filler
During its trial period, BBC HD rarely used trailers for specific programmes as it was a test channel. Between the programmes, two different fillers are used of varying lengths. The music used for the filler is "The Ball" by Craig Armstrong.
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See also
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References
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External links
- BBC HD at bbc.co.uk
- BBC HD International
- How to receive BBC HD at bbc.co.uk
- Report on the digital terrestrial HD trial at bbc.co.uk
- Information about the London HDTV trial and screenshots of BBC HD
- BBC HD at TV Ark
- BBC Trust Public Value Test Final Conclusions document
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