BBC confirms HD for satellite and cable viewers in 2006

The BBC has just confirmed that it is to offer High Definition TV to satellite and cable viewers at some point during 2006. It will also start what it is billing as ‘limited technical trials' of HD over digital terrestrial (Freeview), but acknowledges that there won't be the bandwidth to offer HD to consumers in this format until the digital switchover which starts in 2008 and finishes in 2012.

Cable and satellite viewers will be able to see highlights of BBC ONE's peaktime schedule in high definition. The corporation is apparently in talks with the operators to secure this. The technical terrestrial trial will run in the London area at the same time and apparently won’t affect reception of existing Freeview channels.  It hopes to provide a limited number of HD set top box receivers to triallists.

Director of Television, Jana Bennett, will set out the BBC's vision for future free-to-air high definition television when she takes part in an industry event in London tonight.

She said: "High definition may take time to grow in Britain, but as with the other technologies we helped to build, the BBC wants to prepare now to be able to deliver the benefits of HD to all its licence payers in the long term."

The corporation also confirmed that the BBC has a target to move all production to high definition by 2010. Interestingly the report concludes by stating that current broadband infrastructure does not enable live HDTV to be offered.

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