With terrestrial broadcasters including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 voicing their commitment to high-definition services recently it appears as if HD programming could soon be available in the mainstream – but there are still a few obstacles to overcome.
High-definition broadcasts take up substantially more bandwidth than typical standard-definition does, which makes the prospect of using the best available Freeview platform extremely unlikely in the near future.
So, how are terrestrial broadcasters planning to deliver HD programming to consumers?
Some broadcasters are planning to use satellite services to bring HD into homes to begin with – the BBC has already been airing a trial HD service via Sky. But, eventually all major TV companies are hoping to use new parts of the free to air spectrum, namely the ‘digital dividend’ parts that will become free once the digital TV switchover is complete.
However, government regulators are not keen to hand over the bandwidth for high-definition services despite heavy consumer interest. Ofcom recently announced that they were not in the business of promoting high-definition and insisted that parts of the spectrum would be reclaimed or sold at auction.
Obviously, having to bid for parts of the spectrum in a public sale isn’t something that the terrestrial broadcasters want to consider. “We would like to be allocated automatically, rather than through an auction – we think there is an overwhelming public and policy good,” Rod Henwood, Channel 4’s director of new business, told The Guardian.
The government has conceded there may be ports of the new spectrum that could be used, although it seems that HD isn’t high on the list of priorities yet.
It’s up to the potential broadcasters to produce a compelling argument that will convince the regulators to change their views. And there are several angles being used to do just that.
The BBC believes that unless high-definition is accommodated for, the Freeview platform will not be future-proof. Seetha Kurma, head of HDTV at the BBC, told The Guardian, “if HD is becoming, possibly, the standard – then should digital terrestrial remain an empty platform?”
Other broadcasters have been developing new services to get consumer interest on their side – MTV recently announced an HD service featuring its music shows and children’s programming from Nickelodeon. And Channel 4 has revealed plans to simulcast its main channel’s programmes in high-definition, highlighting movies and prime time US shows as the main drawing cards.
Some broadcasters have even noted US research, which disclosed that viewers pay more attention to advertising in high-definition – offering a fringe benefit to using the technology.
But ultimately, it could be the public who decide whether we get free to air HD services anytime soon. The HD revolution has started with the emergence of large, flat screen TVs and, despite limited content available, experts predict that more than five million HDTVs are already present in British homes.
Early adopters of HD technology may influence Ofcom’s recommendations at the end of the year, but only time will tell if terrestrial high-definition broadcasting has arrived.
Via
The Guardian
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