BBC HD

'BBC HD' is the high-definition television channel launched by the BBC on a trial basis from May 15, 2006, with the first HD originated programme, Planet Earth, shown on May 27.
The broadcasts are generally two to five hours per day, and include simulcasts with BBC channels, such as ''Hustle'' (also on BBC 1), 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 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 June 9 2006.
When high-definition programmes are not being shown, the channel broadcasts a looped preview containing clips from BBC HD programmes.
Initially the trial was due to last 12 months, but the BBC is to seek an extension, subject to regulatory approval ^[1]. The BBC Trust agreed to a Public Value Test (PVT), which began on Monday May 21 2007. The BBC will also extend its own HD trial, which was to end in June, until the end of the PVT process (November 21). Once both have been completed the Trust will consider both assessments and make provisional conclusions, which will be published for consultation before reaching its final decision by November 21.^[2]

Contents

Technical details and availability

Planned service

Sports Coverage

International

BBC HD Preview Trailer/Filler

References

External links

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 the 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) is be 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.

Planned service

The BBC is seeking approval 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. At launch, the channel would offer a schedule of three to four hours per day, building to nine hours in late 2008.
The BBC HD channel would be a mixed-genre service. Its aim, as far as possible, would be to showcase programmes produced in HD from the schedules of other BBC channels. These would be produced 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.
By the time the full nine-hour schedule is achieved, content would come from across the BBC’s portfolio of television channels. Approximately half the content would come from BBC One, 30 per cent from BBC Two and the rest from BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies. The aim is for the bulk of the peak time schedule to be simulcast BBC One programmes. Programmes from BBC Two would be simulcast where the schedule allows. Except in the case of the four-hour overnight schedule on DTT (which would preview the following evening’s output on other channels), programmes would not be shown on the HD channel before their transmission on the originating channel.
In the option of a limited-hours overnight service on DTT, this would show programmes in advance of the following evening’s schedule (subject to rights clearances). By way of example, a new episode of Torchwood, to be broadcast on BBC Two (and on the HD channel on satellite and cable) on a Sunday evening, could be shown on the overnight DTT service on the immediately preceding Sunday morning. This would allow DTT viewers with the necessary equipment to record the programme in HD in advance, and – if they chose to do so – to watch the recorded HD programme at the same time that it is available in HD to audiences on other platforms.^[3]

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 will be screened later in 2007.

International

It was announced in September 2006 that BBC Worldwide plans to broadcast an international version of BBC HD in the near future.

BBC HD Preview Trailer/Filler

BBC HD rarely uses trailers for specific programmes as it is a test channel. Between the programmes, two different fillers are used of varying lengths. The music used for the filler is "Ball" by Craig Armstrong

References

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2007/01/hd_or_not_hd.html
2. http://www.savefreeviewhd.com/page/savefreeviewhd?entry=bbc_hd_lives_on
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/consult/hdtv/hdtv_service_description.pdf

External links

★ BBC HD at bbc.co.uk

★ How to receive BBC HD at bbc.co.uk

★ Information about the London HDTV trial and screenshots of BBC HD

★ Report on the digital terrestrial HD trial at bbc.co.uk

★ BBC HD at TV Ark