BBC unveil free high definition channel

BBC unveil free high definition channel

Plans for the country's first free-to-air high definition TV channel
has been unveiled by the BBC.

The new channel will screen for nine hours every evening, broadcasting
a mix of programmes including children's shows, documentaries and
lifestyle programmes as well as big budget dramas, soaps, comedies and
music shows. It will also feature major live sports fixtures, possibly
including parts of the 2012 Olympics.

The proposal promises that repeats will only make up a maximum of 30
per cent of programming initially and that the number of repeats
screened will fall over time.

It is estimated the new service will cost the BBC £21 million per
year. If approved by the BBC Trust, it will start screening for four
hours a day later this year and will be fully operational, providing a
3pm to midnight service, by 2009.

The country already has two high definition packages on Sky and
Telewest, but both attract subscription charges.

High definition TV uses five times as many pixels as standard
definition TV, producing a sharper, clearer image. It also features
surround sound.

The proposed BBC channel will be available on free digital TV as well
as satellite and cable, with viewers only having to pay for a
high-definition TV and set top box or tuner.

BBC bosses yesterday handed details of the plans to the BBC Trust for
approval. The trust, headed by its new chairman, Sir Michael Lyons,
will have to conduct a "public value test" to determine if the channel
is a good use of the licence fee and to test its impact on commercial
competitors.

A consultation among interested parties will close on June 19 and the
trust will publish its initial findings in September.

The plans will then undergo a public consultation, running until
October, and the final decision on the viability of the channel is
expected from the Trust around Nov 21.

If everything runs to schedule the channel could be broadcasting by
Christmas and will be able to screen the 2012 Olympics.

A BBC spokesman said: "By the time the full nine-hour schedule is
achieved, content would come from across the BBC's TV channels. Around
half would come from BBC1, 30 per cent from BBC2 and the rest from
BBC3, BBC4, CBBC and CBeebies."

ITV, Channel 4 and Five recently took part in closed trials of HD and
their plans are in development.

Yer right, and where is the extra bandwidth going to come from?

"Fun Time Frankie" wrote in message
...
BBC unveil free high definition channel

Plans for the country's first free-to-air high definition TV channel
has been unveiled by the BBC.

The new channel will screen for nine hours every evening, broadcasting
a mix of programmes including children's shows, documentaries and
lifestyle programmes as well as big budget dramas, soaps, comedies and
music shows. It will also feature major live sports fixtures, possibly
including parts of the 2012 Olympics.

The proposal promises that repeats will only make up a maximum of 30
per cent of programming initially and that the number of repeats
screened will fall over time.

It is estimated the new service will cost the BBC £21 million per
year. If approved by the BBC Trust, it will start screening for four
hours a day later this year and will be fully operational, providing a
3pm to midnight service, by 2009.

The country already has two high definition packages on Sky and
Telewest, but both attract subscription charges.

High definition TV uses five times as many pixels as standard
definition TV, producing a sharper, clearer image. It also features
surround sound.

The proposed BBC channel will be available on free digital TV as well
as satellite and cable, with viewers only having to pay for a
high-definition TV and set top box or tuner.

BBC bosses yesterday handed details of the plans to the BBC Trust for
approval. The trust, headed by its new chairman, Sir Michael Lyons,
will have to conduct a "public value test" to determine if the channel
is a good use of the licence fee and to test its impact on commercial
competitors.

A consultation among interested parties will close on June 19 and the
trust will publish its initial findings in September.

The plans will then undergo a public consultation, running until
October, and the final decision on the viability of the channel is
expected from the Trust around Nov 21.

If everything runs to schedule the channel could be broadcasting by
Christmas and will be able to screen the 2012 Olympics.

A BBC spokesman said: "By the time the full nine-hour schedule is
achieved, content would come from across the BBC's TV channels. Around
half would come from BBC1, 30 per cent from BBC2 and the rest from
BBC3, BBC4, CBBC and CBeebies."

ITV, Channel 4 and Five recently took part in closed trials of HD and
their plans are in development.

Agamemnon wrote:
"Fun Time Frankie" wrote in message
...
BBC unveil free high definition channel

Plans for the country's first free-to-air high definition TV channel
has been unveiled by the BBC.

The new channel will screen for nine hours every evening,
broadcasting a mix of programmes including children's shows,
documentaries and lifestyle programmes as well as big budget dramas,
soaps, comedies and music shows. It will also feature major live
sports fixtures, possibly including parts of the 2012 Olympics.


Yer right, and where is the extra bandwidth going to come from?


Would be nice to see a source for the info too.


--
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Mobile Offers: www.southeastbirmingham.co.uk/mob
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/currency

"Agamemnon" wrote in message
. uk...
Yer right, and where is the extra bandwidth going to come from?

Oh and another thing. Will it have a DOG on it, because if it is I isn't
going to watch it and I isn't going to pay for equipment to enable me to
watch it. I'll buy the DOG free DVD's of the shows and films I like, which
will probably come out cheaper than a TV licence, and if that is the case
the TV licence should be scrapped.

No DOG's on the BBC!

In article , Agamemnon
writes
Yer right, and where is the extra bandwidth going to come from?

"Fun Time Frankie" wrote in message
.. .
BBC unveil free high definition channel

Plans for the country's first free-to-air high definition TV channel
has been unveiled by the BBC.

The new channel will screen for nine hours every evening, broadcasting
a mix of programmes including children's shows, documentaries and
lifestyle programmes as well as big budget dramas, soaps, comedies and
music shows. It will also feature major live sports fixtures, possibly
including parts of the 2012 Olympics.

The proposal promises that repeats will only make up a maximum of 30
per cent of programming initially and that the number of repeats
screened will fall over time.

It is estimated the new service will cost the BBC £21 million per
year. If approved by the BBC Trust, it will start screening for four
hours a day later this year and will be fully operational, providing a
3pm to midnight service, by 2009.

The country already has two high definition packages on Sky and
Telewest, but both attract subscription charges.

High definition TV uses five times as many pixels as standard
definition TV, producing a sharper, clearer image. It also features
surround sound.

The proposed BBC channel will be available on free digital TV as well
as satellite and cable, with viewers only having to pay for a
high-definition TV and set top box or tuner.

BBC bosses yesterday handed details of the plans to the BBC Trust for
approval. The trust, headed by its new chairman, Sir Michael Lyons,
will have to conduct a "public value test" to determine if the channel
is a good use of the licence fee and to test its impact on commercial
competitors.

A consultation among interested parties will close on June 19 and the
trust will publish its initial findings in September.

The plans will then undergo a public consultation, running until
October, and the final decision on the viability of the channel is
expected from the Trust around Nov 21.

If everything runs to schedule the channel could be broadcasting by
Christmas and will be able to screen the 2012 Olympics.

A BBC spokesman said: "By the time the full nine-hour schedule is
achieved, content would come from across the BBC's TV channels. Around
half would come from BBC1, 30 per cent from BBC2 and the rest from
BBC3, BBC4, CBBC and CBeebies."

ITV, Channel 4 and Five recently took part in closed trials of HD and
their plans are in development.


Perhaps from the analogue switch off; you have heard about that, haven't
you?
--
Ian G8ILZ
There are always two people in every pictu the photographer and the viewer.
~Ansel Adams

"Agamemnon" writes:

Yer right, and where is the extra bandwidth going to come from?

Maybe if they ditch all the +1 channels and radio (which is available on
DAB) and re-jig the allocation of channels to MUXs, there will be room
for an HD channel or two.

{{{{{Welcome}}}}} wrote:
"Fun Time Frankie" wrote in message
...
BBC unveil free high definition channel

Plans for the country's first free-to-air high definition TV
channel has been unveiled by the BBC.

Would be nice to see a source for the info too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/p...1_05_2007.html
would seem to be relevant, but that page doesn't "unveil plans".
However, the OP may be referring to what this page calls "[The] BBC
Executive's application for a high definition television channel"
which was published 21 May - though I can't yet find it online.

André Coutanche

André Coutanche wrote:
However, the OP may be referring to what this page calls "[The] BBC
Executive's application for a high definition television channel"
which was published 21 May - though I can't yet find it online.

It's at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets...escription.pdf -
as was reported last night on the Topfield forums by Nigel Whitfield.

André Coutanche

WOW!

That's a thought high definition DOG

As most Plasma/lcd tv sets seem to be big, wonder if the DOGs will be even
larger.


--
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

Agamemnon wrote:
Yer right, and where is the extra bandwidth going to come from?

Surely this is just the formality of turning BBC HD from a trial into a
proper TV channel? No extra bandwidth required.