With the launch of freesat just days away, there's speculation that ITV could launch its long-awaited high definition service exclusively on the free-to-air satellite platform.
According to Digital Spy, "test transmissions for ITV HD are now being broadcast on Eurobird 1 at 11.428 GHz with horizontal polarisation, a symbol rate of 27500, and a service ID of 10510. However, the stream may not be viewed on Sky boxes, nor traditional free to air receivers, as the video stream is being broadcast as H.222 data rather than using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec supported by such receivers and used by existing high definition services such as BBC HD."
Regardless of what you think of ITV's programming, an exclusive arrangement to put it out on freesat could give the platform a major boost. We're already expecting Channel 4 and Five to delay their freesat launches because of exclusive deals with Sky, so this could be one up for the BBC and ITV joint collaboration.
We'll get no official comment on what will initially be available until next Tuesday, 6th May, when freesat launches to the public.
(Via Digital Spy)
Sky own shares in ITV so you would think they would get ITV1 HD.