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11|06|09

Channel 5 set for licence for high definition programmes on digital terrestrial television

TV viewers should be able to watch Channel 5’s programmes in high definition (HD) via an aerial after Ofcom announced that it has made a provisional decision to reserve capacity in principal to the broadcaster, to provide new HD services on digital terrestrial television (DTT) from 2010.

Ofcom’s decision to award a HD licence to Channel 5 is subject to it resolving certain key criteria related to its application. These must be resolved by the 31 December 2009.

Today’s announcement follows a tender process which attracted two bids; one from Channel 5 and the second from Channel 4 and Welsh-language broadcaster S4C. Ofcom considered that both bids were of high quality but that after careful consideration decided that the application from Channel 5 fulfilled the various criteria more fully than the application from Channel 4 and S4C.

This decision should mean that Channel 5 will join the other public service broadcasters, the BBC, the Channel 3 licensees (ITV, stv and UTV), and Channel 4 and S4C, in launching four HD services on DTT in total.

In April 2008, Ofcom announced that it would instigate the reorganisation of the DTT platform to allow the broadcasters to free-up capacity in order to enable the upgrade of one Multiplex to new and more efficient technologies, to offer new HD services.

The initial first three HD services are expected to begin with the Granada region from late 2009. The rest of the UK will follow as each region switches to digital with nationwide coverage by 2012.

Ofcom is also talking to the BBC with a view to allowing HD services to be launched in other parts of the UK in advance of this timetable by the use of temporary frequency assignments at a number of main transmission sites.

To access these new HD services on DTT, viewers will need a HD ready TV set and a HD ready set-top box. By the end of the first quarter of 2009, the number of households with access to a HD service via cable and satellite rose to an all time high, with over 1.8 million in total.

BEST OF FIVE IN HD

Channel 5’s application initially involves simulcasting its main public services channel programmes at peak time on HD. This means that popular programmes such as The Gadget Show, UEFA Europa League, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and blockbuster movie premiers could become available in HD from late 2010.

In the future, Channel 5 predicts sharing its HD channel with another broadcaster during daytime hours and supplying other services, such as Video on Demand in HD overnight.

AVAILABILITY OF HD PROGRAMMES AND DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

HD services on DTT will start to become available across the UK as digital switchover happens in each region. We expect that the first region in which the HD services will become available will be the Granada region in late 2009.

As part of their applications all the broadcasters who have been awarded capacity, including Channel 5, have committed to ensuring that viewers are suitably informed about the new services as switchover takes place.

Regions that have already switched to digital such as Border, the West Country and parts of Wales will be upgraded retrospectively.

UPGRADING DTT FOR HD

The upgrade includes using two new broadcasting standards, known as MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 which are not available on current DTT devices. Many of the leading UK and international manufacturers are now developing receivers that include these new standards.

Although compatible receivers are not yet available we are aware from discussions with manufacturers that they are now developing suitable equipment with the intention of launching initial products in time for digital switchover in the Granada region in late 2009.

Digital terrestrial TV programmes are broadcast on six distinct sets of airwaves called multiplexes. Ofcom will facilitate the reorganisation of existing services onto five of the multiplexes, freeing the sixth multiplex to be upgraded to MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 for the new services. This multiplex is currently licensed to BBC Free to View Ltd (known as Multiplex B).

Philip Graf, Chairman of Ofcom’s Content Board said: “This gives Channel 5 the opportunity to join the other public service broadcasters in providing new services for viewers. It means more choice for TV viewers who will be able to watch in high definition popular programming, free to air through their television aerials.”

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Advice for consumers on High Definition services can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumeradvice/tv/hdtv/

2. Viewers can currently receive HD services from a variety of providers including:

• BBC/ITV free satellite service, Freesat which includes the BBC and ITV HD services
• Virgin Media which includes the BBC HD service and some on-demand content in HD
• Sky, which includes BBC and Channel 4 HD services and access to over 20 other HD channels.

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