Freeview HD Launches – Allegedly

With little fan fair and small “closed door” demo to selected trade insiders and journalists Freeview HD has been launched.

The broadcasts, using the new DVB-T2 standard – are only available from Winter Hill (Granada Region) and Crystal Palace (London) transmitters.

The demo ran on prototype receivers – as no retail boxes are yet being manufactured. It is expected they will be available from Q2 2010.

The initial broadcasts, on the cleared Mux B, are currently broadcasting BBC HD and ITV1 HD. Channel 4 is expected to join before the end of 2010. C5 also have a licence to broadcast on the multiplex, but are unlikely to start broadcasts for the foreseeable future, due to funding restraints.

Sadly, no one can as yet, report on the quality of picture and reliability of reception, as there are no receivers available!

As soon as we receive a working production model, we will test it and post our results here.