Freeview HD when?

[redsand451]

Does anyone know when HD channels on freeview are due (Granada region)?

Also will this require a new freeview box and if so are there any PVRs that will cater for the HD channels?

(I currently have virgin media but contemplating getting V+ with HD but seems pointless to pay £5 per month subscription if I can get almost the same through freeview).

[BenMcr]

The HD broadcasts start in December - although the HD Freeview boxes won't be around until next year apparently

[Tezcatlipoca]

A new box will be required, as Freeview HD will be using MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC / H.264) instead of the current MPEG-2, & DVB-T2 instead of the current DVB-T.

[RealDiamond]

The BBC are forcing freeview HD to air. Their plan is to get Freeview HD out to 50% of the UK population in time to watch a soccer match final which people won't care about ;).. as England WON'T be in it anyway. They will not be waiting for analogue switch off.

DVB-T2 boxes Exist But are not Licensed to be DVB-T2 as the BBC won't confirm the specs needed.
The usual box maker Humax have been waiting to push out freeview HD licensed DVB-T2 boxes since August again the BBC have been stalling.
Pace gave up and now are going to wait till next year to release their freeview HD box.
Panasonic have been dead quite about it, may be due to there Freesat HD PVR and BD recorder deal they have .

[redsand451]

Sounds like 'don't hold your breath'.....(what's the point of broadcasting it if no one can get a box to watch it??!!)

Think I'll go with V+ and then decide in a couple of years if freeview HD is up to scratch.

[Chris]

Freeview HD is never going to be up to scratch because terrestrial broadcasting doesn't have the bandwidth to do it justice. They're having to reduce the bitrate of some of the existing Freeview SD channels in order to make room for HD, and the HD channels themselves will have poorer bitrates than their Freesat equivalents.

If you want a PVR more than you want subscription-based TV services, don't mess about signing your money away on a contract with VM, go and buy a Humax Freesat-HD box and a dish.

[BenMcr]

and the HD channels themselves will have poorer bitrates than their Freesat equivalents.They are also only going to be 720 :(

[Turkey Machine]

1080i's a bad idea anyway. 720p should improve things since it's all most HDTVs support (1366x768 resolution on them).

[ShadowTD]

I thought the latest whispers were they were going for 1080i, just like Dsat. Can't find owt to back me up though.

[BenMcr]

The standard being used can support up to 1080i apparently, but they are launching with 720p - I assume for bandwidth reasons.

[Turkey Machine]

That and 720p50 F1 looks far more awesome than 1080i50 F1. :D