BBC One HD launch date confirmed

by Sarah Griffiths on 22 October 2010, 12:23

Tags: BBC

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Highly definitive?

The BBC's main HD channel, BBC One HD will be launched on 3 November at 7pm across all HD platforms.

Auntie announced it will be available on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

Kicking off the channel in HD, will be The One Show, followed by a new series of Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention, then Nigel Slater's Simple Suppers, Jimmy's Food Factory, Film 2010 and The Apprentice. The BBC also announced Eastenders will be broadcast for the first time in HD on Christmas Day.

The HD channel will simulcast a network version of the BBC schedule with most peak time shows in HD.

Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, said: "Whether it is seeing the flicker of irritation on Lord Sugar's face in the boardroom showdown or watching the beads of sweat fly from dancers on Strictly, BBC One HD is the biggest sign yet that HD viewing is now a part of the mainstream."

Danielle Nagler, head of HD and 3D said the existing BBC HD channel will continue to show a mash-up of programmes and sport from various BBC channels. It is worth noting that shows not shot in HD, including Eastenders will be upscaled for the new channel.

Meanwhile, Sky is rolling out its new internet VoD service called Sky Anytime+ to its Sky+HD customers.

Sky+HD set-top boxes will be able to connect to the Sky Broadband network to access ‘thousands of hours' of  VoD content including over 600 films and drama ‘box sets'.

The service comes at no extra cost to subscribers and the interface is an extension of the existing Sky+HD electronic programme guide, which uses thumbnail images, listings and search tools to help users find the programmes they want.

"Sky Anytime+ works on a progressive download basis so content becomes available to view before it has fully downloaded. For most customers this means content is ready to watch in less than a minute," said Sky.

The launch coincides with Sky's Q3 trading update, which revealed it added 96,000 new TV customers to its customer base of 9,956,000. It also saw a growth in the number of people subscribing to its HD and broadband packages.

Sky Anytime+ will be rolled out to all Sky+HD boxes beginning from 26 October. The majority of Sky's HD boxes will be ready to receive the service by the end of the year with the remaining boxes to follow in a phased roll out through the first part of 2011.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Sky+HD set-top boxes will be able to connect to the Sky Broadband network to access ‘thousands of hours' of VoD content including over 600 films and drama ‘box sets'.

This seems to indicate that you have to be with Sky as your broadband provider too - is this the case? And if not, presumably it's just a matter of plugging it into your router via Ethernet?
According to THIS yes you have to be a Sky Broadband customer.
rox0r
According to THIS yes you have to be a Sky Broadband customer.

might be worth ammending the article with this information as otherwise its quite misleading.
It's been known for a while that anytime+ would be restricted to Sky Broadband customers to start with, however they have said they will roll it out to all ISPs in the future, just not on launch.