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Is a Freeview for HD on its way?

Pace_free_hd_receiver The arrival of free to air satellite systems in the UK High Street from Humax and possibly Pace means that there potentially is a infrastructure for a free to air HD system to develop in the UK.

The BBC has made no secret of its HD intentions and the latest goss that we have is that it will screen the World Cup for free on a HD channels available via the Astra satellites which will be viewable on Sky systems as well as any free to air boxes. The only downside is that the games are likely to be time delayed rather than live.

Other broadcasters like Channel Four, which has a wealth of HD material like Desperate Housewives and Lost, are also mulling over their HD options, and were C4 to join with the BBC, Euro 1080 and maybe even a few other companies, Sky might find that it is having to deal with a growing free to air HD alternative to its services.

In the long run it could potentially develop into HD equivalent of Freeview with viewers just paying a one off fee for the box and dish. Bizarrely Sky might even get behind it offering viewers a free-to-air receiver compatible with its HD services which it would then use to tempt the HD freebie mob into upgrading or paying for sports events or movies.

We are guessing now, but surely Humax wouldn't bother launching a free to air HD receiver unless it was convinced that viewers would have something interesting to watch on it.

What do you think? Would you take up a free to air alternative to Sky?

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Posted by Shiny Media on February 20, 2006

Comments

I'd love a free HD alternative to Sky. I'm not a current Sky subscriber because I don't watch enough TV to make anything more than Freeview worthwhile, but I've been considering Sky HD as a way to put my TV to good use. If I could get some decent content from Channel 4 and the BBC without having to subscribe I'd be the first on board.

Posted by: Olly | February 20, 2006 3:19 PM

I would be very interested in free to air , particularly the world cup. I am told the German channel Premiere are having all the world cup games live in HD ,would i be able to watch them on the Humax , I know i could not on the SKY HD system ?

Posted by: mark palmer | February 20, 2006 3:32 PM

I'd be amazed if the World Cup wasn't in HD and if it is you'll almost certainly be able to see it in HD via the Humax box. You are best to wait for it to be confirmed before buying though.

Posted by: Ashley | February 20, 2006 4:33 PM

The World Cup is being covered in HD in 1080/50i. Premiere in Germany is showing all 64 matches in HD - but via their subscription platform. If you want to watch (with German commentary) you'd need to get a Premiere receiver (or a receiver wth a Premiere compatible CAM and subscription - if they exist)

The BBC have the UK rights to some of the World Cup - with ITV having the other half. Sky don't have the rights themselves.

HOWEVER - there are strong indications that the BBC HD trial will launch in May/June - and will start on satellite. This will mean that although Sky won't be broadcasting the BBC HD service - just as Sky don't currently broadcast BBC One/Two/Three etc. on satellite - you will be able to receive them with a Sky receiver. (The BBC would be mad to launch an incompatible system)

So the big question is - will the BBC present their World Cup matches in HD and broadcast them on their HD trial service? My gut feeling is that they will - the dates make sense - and I suspect the Beeb have enough HD experience (they've been trialling HD sports coverage for quite a while, as well as making shows like the Proms in HD for quite a few years) to do this in a manner that won't jeopardise the SD coverage. (They'd need to do the BBC One presentation and analysis in a manner compatible with HD - either in HD or SD upconverted and mixed with HD live match coverage)

They haven't announced concrete plans - and as ever there are no guarantees. However I think it is far MORE rather than LESS likely that if you have a Sky HD receiver in time for the World Cup, you will be able to watch BBC HD on it, and this could well include BBC HD World Cup coverage. Not guaranteed - but most people now think this is highly likely.

Now what about Wimbledon???

Posted by: Steve | February 23, 2006 11:36 AM

I'd love to receive the world up and possibly wimbledon in hdtv. The only problem is these boxes require a sat dish/lnb correct? I'm highly doubtful i'll be allowed to stick a dish on the side of the house (anyone say mum owned?) which is why we got cable instead of sky.
Couple of questions, first can you stick a sattelite dish inside the house like our standard antenna which sits in the loft?
Second, will hdtv be available over terrestrial antennas or is it purely sattelite only - at least for now?

Posted by: Simon Ball | February 23, 2006 7:23 PM

It is technically possible to put a dish inside your roof although you need to replace the roof tiles with special plastic ones that allow the signal to pass through. Basically anything containing metal (or water for that matter - satellite is a microwave signal) degrades or blocks the signal. You can also put them behind windows, although the type of glass used matters. Modern glass is often treated for UV/insulation/strength which doesn't help.

Yes.. HD will be available over terrestial (e.g. the Freeview system). You will need a new box but market forces should push them well below the £100 mark. I'd expect new HDTV's as they come out to have the decoder built in. Bandwidth is the main issue. The needed bandwidth is currently being used by existing analogue channels so we need them to be turned off (due 2012 I think). The BBC are due to start trialling HD (I'd guess one or two channels) on Freeview this year (using special boxes) but only to invited people.

Any service they start must be publicly available (e.g. I'd say cable and satellite only is not deemed publicly available so Freeview must be included) Perhaps 2007/2008 for BBC1 HD. C4 are also keen to go HD.

As for HD World Cup from the BBC, I think unlikely. The BBC have said they will trial HD on satellite, cable and invited Freeview people sometime in 2006 and it will be highlights of BBC1's peaktime schedule. Plus showing matches in HD on Sky would be seen as a marketing deal with Murdoch (which he would love as it will most definitely drive Sky/HD TV sales). ITV are a slim possibility.

Although pure speculation on my part, I think you've more chance of seeing Sky show the games in HD via an existing sports channel or as a one-off World Cup channel (most probably PPV). The World Cup is a 'Crown Jewels' event so as long as it's still shown on terrestial they won't upset Ofcom, Labour etc. It all depends if he can meet demand with boxes and installation to make it profitable.

Posted by: Redbook | March 7, 2006 7:26 PM

would love free hd on satelite.....hate sky

Posted by: ray | April 6, 2006 5:35 PM

I have a HD ready 42" plasma with built in freeview, once HD is finaly broadcast over freeview would i need an extra box (a hd decoder) or would my current tele have everything it needs already built in?

Posted by: ste | April 19, 2006 11:03 PM

The freeview receiver in your HD Ready Television will only receive the Standard Definition signals, therefore you would require a seperate decoder hooked up to your TV with an HDMI, DVI or Component lead.

TV's with integrated Freeview High Definition will be labeled 'HD TV' but are not available yet.

Posted by: Goodfellow71 | May 5, 2006 3:27 PM

Hi every one http://www.aauwescondidosanmarcos.org is a real good site i found few live streaming links in there they yes they keep updating but will find nothing when match is not there there software was also cool, though had problems to download it but worked fine later on

Posted by: Watch Live Football | June 7, 2006 2:32 PM

I find it very frustrating that the only way in to the HD arena at present is via Sky. And also that the only way I can see via Sky is with one of their 2/4 or 6 channel mixes. Minimum cost appears to be £35 per month + one off cost of £299 for kit & £60 for installation. Currently I have an HD TV, NO TV reception (since moving house a few weeks ago) - I only watch DVDs/videos - even before moving house when I did have reception my TV watching was about 1 hour a week - mostly reading news on teletext. I want good quality visuals but it is very hard to justify £510 per annum (writing off the one off costs over 3 years). The kids (6 & 8) point out that they would like TV but they have never actually watched more than an hour or two a month of actual TV (they do watch their DVDs & videos though and this seems to keep them happy).

I wouldn't want Sat TV without HD (that's as appealing as sweets without the sugar), so as far as I am concerned the sooner there is an HD alternative to Sky the better. Currently Sky's pricing structure is geared heavily against those who want quality and not quantity.

Posted by: Peter Maher | November 21, 2006 8:27 AM

I would love to have HD,but if the prices remain high there is no hope for us ordinary mortals.In a few years time the BBC wants us to pay £150 or there abouts for a tv licence,if that is the case smoe of us will have to ditch our tvs.It is the BBC just being greedy.I would like to hear from other people what they think.

Posted by: Terry Patrick Doran | October 28, 2007 10:19 PM

I have a good analogue television but have been very impressed by the latest HDTV sets with their definition and performance. The problem is that having an HDTV set is a waste of money unless you subscribe to the outrageously high monthly fee (£35) required by Sky. What on earth is the BBC doing that they offer no alternative? Personally, I will stay with my analogue TV until HDTV is transmitted over non-subscribing channels. I think this means until 2012!

Posted by: Chris Richardson | December 27, 2007 4:07 PM

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