Perhaps it's a knock on effect of the global rescession, but the latest report by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has found that TV viewing is at the highest it has been in 18 years.

Viewers watched an average of 3.75 hours of TV a day last year, the highest figure since 1992, according to IPA research.

As one would expect to find, the first and last quarters of the year, with less daylight and fewer people away on holiday, tended to show the highest television viewing figures.

Interestingly, the IPA revealed that only 8.2 % of UK households relied on an analogue signal to catch their favourite shows, showing that the digital switch-over is almost complete.

While ITV and GMTV gathered 19% of the total television audience in the last three months of 2009, likely thanks to the popularity of the X-Factor, BBC1 continued to achieve the highest share of all the terrestrial channels, at 21%. All five analogue channels continue to lose ground however, as multi-channel satellite options grow in prominence.

UK based TV manufacturers Cello launched their new iViewer TV range today.

Available in 32" and 26" sizes, the TV's are the first in the country to have BBC's iPlayer built in. Through a wireless or Ethernet connection, users can stream content straight from BBC's online platform onto their televisions, as well as offering widgets for news feeds, various web TV channels and YouTube content.

Web TV channels currently supported include Disney Movies Preview, Movie Rush, Autocar Magazine, Sky Sports Boots and All, the CNN daily video podcast, Jamie's Ministry of Food, Delicious TV Veg, Revision 3 Diggnation and the Larry King video podcast.

Users can also stream video and other media content directly from a networked PC to the Cello iViewer TV.

In terms of picture quality, the 32" 16:9 model will be capable of displaying full HD 1080p video, with a contrast ratio of 3000:1, and will include a pre-installed Freeview tuner. The 26 incher will also have a built in Freeview tuner, with a 1080i HD ready video output and a contrast ratio of 800:1.

I got to have a quick play around with the 32" model this morning and was impressed by the clear UI and simple navigation controls. The iViewer software has a dedicated remote button, and with plenty of connectivity options on the back, including two HDMI slots, two USB slots, composite/component inputs and a built in DVD player, £499 seems a very reasonable price. £399 will bag you the 26" model.

Though it's not a feature Cello are keen to officially promote (as they cannot guarantee its quality), the industrious among you can even hook up a keyboard and mouse and access a modest web-browser hidden within the iViewer software.

If Cello can keep updating the onboard Onyx software with content and fresh widgets, the iViewer TV could be the perfect bedroom telly.

Keep an eye out for these Marks and Spencer's exclusives within the next week.

Looking for a Freesat+ DTR that will be HD ready straight out of the box? Sagem's Freesat+ DTR could soon be filling that gap under your flat screen.

Available in two 250GB or 500GB models, the new boxes feature auto set-up options to help you watch HD content within minutes of plugging in the DTR.

Sagems' MD Raphael Fainac said, "Sagem is a leader in set top box technology, we provide our customers with products that they need. Our top of the range Freeview + boxes and exciting new Freesat+ DTR's will bring a festive cheer to UK households this Christmas. We pride ourselves on providing great quality and hard wearing devices that give customers a completely satisfactory user experience from purchasing to using and any required customer care."

Confused over the differences between Freesat and Freeview, and not sure which set-top box you should be getting? Fill out Sagem's handy questionnaire at www.sagemdigital.co.uk to help find the box for you.

The first technical transmissions of Freeview HD have begun today.

The Winter Hill transmitter group is currently beaming broadcasts to select areas of Manchester, with the Crystal Palace group doing the same for pockets of London. They are the first in the world to adopt the DVB-T2 standard and MPEG-4.

James Jackson, BBC head of broadcast infrastructure carried out a demonstration live at the BBC Media Centre. Promotional cuts from BBC HD and ITV HD broadcast by the Crystal Hill group were displayed using brand new IDTV's manufactured by Sony and Panasonic. Both channels were fully incorporated into the Freeview electronic programme guide.

Though the BBC broadcast was the same as is currently available on Freesat, ITV's offering was currently just an upscaled broadcast of the ITV1 channel. ITV have committed however to broadcast most of their top peak programme scheduling in full HD as the service becomes more widespread.

The BBC hope to have a national coverage of 50% for Freeview HD in time for the 2010 World Cup, reaching its maximum 98.5% national coverage by late 2012. Channel 4 also hope to launch a Freeview HD channel in the new year, with as many as five other HD channels in the wings from the network.

For news of when your area will be receiving Freeview HD broadcasts, click here.

Although Freeview HD is far from being a BBC exclusive, the Corporation obviously has a lot of involvement and influence over its rollout, so it's good to see an update on proceedings on the BBC Internet Blog (well worth subscribing to) from the BBC Operations Group head of distribution technology, Graham Plumb.

He writes that the plans is still to launch Freeview HD on 2nd December at the Winter Hill transmitter which serves Manchester and Liverpool.

The London Crystal Palace transmitter is also due to be upgraded in December, despite the fact that digital switchover isn't due until 2012.

According to remarks made to James at Electric Pig last week, Toshiba has sided with Freeview HD and will build the new standard into TVs due to launch by 2010.

Product manager for Toshiba's UK TV operation, Andrew Line, said that Toshiba had always planned to support Freeview HD. As an added blow, he suggested that the company would not be making TVs with integrated Freesat receivers.

Though Panasonic has had the lion's share of Freesat-integrated HDTVs to date, it had seemed likely that LG would also create Freesat IDTVs.

The idea of getting Freeview HD in time for the 2010 World Cup isn't new, but it got another mention this week at DVB in Berlin.

Head of distribution technology at BBC Distribution, Graham Plumb, said that it looked likely that between 30 and 40 per cent of the UK population could have access to high definition on Freeview in time for the World Cup. This probably represents the population that will have already switched to digital by then.

Digital Spy is reporting that Ofcom has confirmed that there will be enough capacity on digital terrestrial TV by mid-2010 to launch a fourth high definition channel.

This new capacity will be available on multiplex B, with Five, ITV, Channel 4, S4C and Teletext all eligible to apply for the fourth HD public service slot.

On the technical side, Ofcom outlined three possible capacity scenarios under which all services on the multiplex would have to operate: a low capacity of 34Mbps with 30Mbps available for video streams, a mid capacity with 36Mbps of which 32.3Mbps is available for video, and an upper capacity also allowing 36Mbps but using the more efficient HE-AAC audio codec and thus offering more space for the HD video streams. Ofcom suggested that the upper capacity would be the most likely option.

Ofcom said that it was "satisfied that it will be possible to support 4 HD services on multiplex B with acceptable quality before the end of 2010... based on the assumption that the latest generation H.264 video encoding and statistical multiplexing equipment will be used when the fourth service is launched and a DVB-T2 profile which provides in excess of 34Mbps is adopted".

(Via Digital Spy

In a grand-sounding consultation paper entitled "Temporary assignment of UHF analogue interleaved frequencies", Ofcom is considering the possibility of large cities in the UK, including London, gaining access to high definition over Freeview, despite their official digital switchover date being two or more years down the line.

Though the Granada TV region will see analogue switchoff, and hence more spectrum available for Freeview HD, from late 2009, other regions are being phased in gradually until 2012. London and the South East are the two of the last regions to be switched.

The BBC has applied to Ofcom to temporarily use special frequencies for high definition broadcasts until the switchover is completed in 2012. If approved, it would ensure that many more British consumers could access high definition content, including the 2010 World Cup.

Responding to last week's news that Ofcom has awarded two more licences to broadcast in HD on Freeview, Freesat has said that it offers much better UK coverage and programme choice.

An official statement read:

"With Freesat, subscription free high definition (HD) is already a reality for the UK. We believe our no strings offer of over 130 channels plus great HD programmes from the BBC and ITV, for a one off payment of as little as £120, is leading the way in making HD the standard that viewers will come to expect in the future."

The BBC is planning to broadcast its first regular high definition programmes over the DVB-T2 platform by November next year, according to Catherine Smadja, head of strategy at the BBC.

One multiplex will be upgraded to DVD-T2 and MPEG-4, carrying the BBC HD service and two or three others. Eventually, as the analogue signal is switched off across the country, the service should be available to 98.5% of the UK population.

Smadja said that DVB-T2 was "an absolute necessity".

Freesat viewers are in for a treat tomorrow (Saturday) night, with Peter Jackson's blockbuster remake of King Kong coming to ITV1 in full high definition.

From 7.50pm, viewers will be promoted to press the red button if they want to access the HD version of the film.

Freesat's Managing Director, Emma Scott, said that this marked the start of some great HD movies being aired on ITV HD.

Unlike the BBC's high definition offering, ITV HD is currently only available via Freesat.

ITV HD

The number of manufacturers producing hardware capable of receiving Freesat is set to increase over the next few months, as the free-to-air satellite provider announces a new deal with Metronic, and is in talks with other digibox and IDTV manufacturers regarding new equipment.

Metronic will produce high definition freesat boxes, to go on sale by the end of the year. The company already produces free-to-air satellite equipment throughout Europe.

"We're pleased to be partnering with Metronic. They will deliver important extra volumes of affordable and high quality product to meet the demand from retailers and consumers as we enter the peak season," said Emma Scott, Freesat's MD.

Freesat will also look at setting up new distribution channels, which may well mean new retailers, though exact details haven't been given.

Freesat

Two more terrestrial channels have submitted applications to broadcast high definition content on the Freeview HD service, expected to begin rolling out as digital switchover progresses.

ITV would use one of the three Ofcom-allocated slots to broadcast a simulcast of ITV1 during "primetime" 6pm-11pm each evening. This would include a single national service for England and Wales, plus branded streams for Scotland and Northern Ireland (presumably to keep the likes of STV happy).

A lot of that content will simply be upscaled, thought ITV expects that between 40 and 50 percent of original programming will be made in high definition, increasing to 60-65% by 2012, and approaching three-quarters by 2014.

The major terrestrial broadcasters have been signed up for months, but finally Ofcom has laid out its proposals for bringing free-to-air high definition channels to an upgraded Freeview platform.

In certain regions, three high definition channels could appear on Freeview as soon as next year, with up to four available in all areas after the digital switchover is complete in 2012.

One channel would go to the BBC Trust, with the other three going to commercial public service broadcasters after a bidding process. The applications would be judged on their efficient use of spectrum, the contribution to public service broadcasting and a contribution to the range and diversity of TV.

Now that the BBC Trust has approved plans to launch a high-definition channel, it’s asked viewers to decide how and when the service will be launched.

Viewers will be asked their opinion over whether the new technology should be made available immediately on Freeview, which would involve buying a new set top box (and another one in four years’ time) or whether they are prepared to wait.

A public consultation on the subject will be held until 23 October.

As expected, the BBC Trust has given its provisional backing to setting up a high-definition channel.

After a series of assessments, the group came to the conclusion we were hoping before by stating the HDTV channel would offer ‘high public value’ and cause minimal adverse impact on the market.

However, the channel may be delayed on Freeview to save audiences from having to buy two set top boxes.

The Trust will now consult the public on proposals before publishing its final conclusions on 21 November.

Via
BBC

Related stories
BBC Trust greenlights terrestrial BBC HD channel
Comment: Is terrestrial HD broadcasting a reality yet?
Channel 4 announce new HDTV service

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?

Channel 4 is the latest terrestrial broadcaster to announce a high-definition TV service. It will be the first of the ‘big five’ to launch a HD simulcast of its main channel.

The schedule is due to be launched in December and will be available free of charge on the Sky HD platform. So, although Channel 4 HD will be available without prescription, customers will still need a Sky HD box and viewing card.

Terrestrial HD could be around the corner after the BBC Trust has called for BBC HD to be launched 'as soon as possible' following the conclusion of its public value test.

The Trust's assessment concluded that the service would "deliver a medium to high level of public value," and it was supported by Ofcom's market impact assessment released earlier today.

Both Ofcom and the BBC Trust have stated that a full nine-hour broadcast of BBC HD on digital terrestrial TV would be preferable to a four-hour overnight period.