Channel 4 HD to launch in December

Jungle Boy

Digital Spy are reporting.........

A high definition simulcast of Channel 4 will launch on Sky in December.

Channel 4 HD, which will be available without additional subscription to viewers with a Sky HD box and a viewing card, will carry high definition versions of the channel's programming where available. The channel will be located on channel 140, adjacent to Channel 4+1, E4, E4+1, More4 and More4+1.

Initially the channel will launch on Sky, but Channel 4 told DS this morning that there is no exclusive arrangement with the satellite broadcaster and that Channel 4 HD is expected to rollout on other platforms "in the future".

dmeehan

Its also in the guardian: http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2172500,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=4

Ulsterman 1690

Will it be FTA (albeit requiring a HD FTA reciever) or will there be a HD version of freesat

Pal

Big Brother in HD. can't wait

bk

This is great news, it is sounding like the new Freesat service from the BBC/ITV is going to look good, with BBC HD, ITV and C4 HD at least included.

This could end up being some serious competition for Sky.

watty

It will be FTV initially. (i.e. need a Sky card + Sky HD box)

not FTA.

But next march you never know.

byte

This site has a run on it too
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/today/?p=2137

I suppose it's extremely likely that the Freesat boxes will be High Definition STB's.

Batesy

Anyone know if BBC HD will ever go on the main epg so we can record stuff off it etc.

bk

Batesy wrote:

Anyone know if BBC HD will ever go on the main epg so we can record stuff off it etc.

Well one side effect of the launch of Freesat is that I'd expect all the BBC channels to be added to the EPG.

Sky would look pretty silly if the Freesat service was more capable and easier to use then Sky.

Mossy Monk

bk wrote:

Well one side effect of the launch of Freesat is that I'd expect all the BBC channels to be added to the EPG.

Sky would look pretty silly if the Freesat service was more capable and easier to use then Sky.

I hope you are right but I just don't see Sky paying out money for them.

5h4mr0(k

bk wrote:

Well one side effect of the launch of Freesat is that I'd expect all the BBC channels to be added to the EPG.

Sky would look pretty silly if the Freesat service was more capable and easier to use then Sky.

I'd think that it would be the other way around. I'd expect channels to leave Sky and go the Freesat route.

watty

Batesy wrote:

Anyone know if BBC HD will ever go on the main epg so we can record stuff off it etc.

Not likely at the minute as it is
a) A UK service. Sky pay BBC for BBC1 NI and BBC2 NI on EPG. All the reset of BBC is not on EPG, so why BBC HD.

b) It's only a trial. Not a real channel.

A real BBC HD does not launch until March 2008 or so. Even then unlikely to be on Irish EPG unless Sky sees a major commercial advantage.

watty

Since a Freesat receiver will not receive RTE, TV3, TG4 or Sky Pay TV, I can't see Sky worrying about it in Ireland or paying BBC for more Irish EPG. Freesat only affects Sky UK (In Sky's Mind), where all the BBC is already on the EPG.