Freeview going HD in the UK

It's official: HD aficionados in the UK will soon be able to get their fix via Freeview. If you'll recall, the Freeview HD trial that took place in 2006 went over quite well, and according to Ofcom, up to four free HD channels will be broadcast. Unfortunately, users looking forward to such niceties will be forced to wait until analog is switched off in their neck of the woods, and of course they'll also need an HD-ready TV and a new set-top-box. We've already heard that BBC will be one of the four channels, and ITV, Channel 4, Five and Welsh network S4C have all been "invited to bid for [the other] three slots in which they can broadcast high-definition TV or other new services." On the upside, the whole of the country should be digital by 2012, just in time for the London Olympics -- and for those lucky souls in and around Whitehaven, you'll get the spoils first.

[Thanks, Kieran and Andy]

[DrXym Posted Apr 3rd 2008 8:19AM]

S4C in HD - now there's a waste of money.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 8:55AM]

S4C chlegrau! Fel anturia 'ch!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 8:56AM]

That said, I think I'd prefer E4 :)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 9:12AM]

Shouldn't it read Britain or UK rather than England.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 9:41AM]

Thats one of the few things that annoy me, people talking about England as if they were to refer to it as the UK. There are other countries in Britain you know, and although Wales was mentioned, it is a country in itself and not part of England.

I know all is meant well, but its about time the media got it right.

On topic, Freesat will be providing HD programming sooner (this spring apparently) than Terrestrial Freeview. I can see that being delayed though.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 9:45PM]

There's a country named after wales?

I mean they're so big and slow, they always get caught up in Japanese fishing boats - defiantly NOT worthy of having a country named after them!

Maybe we should take the family for a vacation in Dolphin?

Oh well, don't blame the author - he obviously graduated from a U.S. school (they suck here)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 4th 2008 8:26AM]

Of course Wales is not, and never has been a country. It is an administritive district of the UK.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 4th 2008 8:38AM]

Wrong. It didn't even join the Union until the 1500s.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 6th 2008 9:00AM]

Yes it should.
But why let a lack of knowledge about someone's country get in their way.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 6th 2008 9:07AM]

HD-DVDsucsmyballs

It's Wales=country
WHALES=large aquatic mammal

So they didn't name the country after the Mammal. They're not even spelt the same.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 7th 2008 6:44PM]

er... Gam71, the clue's in his name. You're a moron.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 4th 2008 5:26AM]

Freeview may be old hat once the new free DTH service Freesat, which has already started takes shape. It can be recieved using the same dish as Sky and will have a number of HD channels as well. Most of the channels will be from the BBC and ITV domains.

http://www.mobiletvhome.com