Re: Terrestrial TV
 

Is that true?, each transponder is limited with bandwidth, if they have left the space between the SD channels then YES I agree, but have they left that space (I don;t know that's why I'm asking :D )

Re: Terrestrial TV
 

I wasn't even thinking of it in such technical terms (that's your job ;) )

So far, they have been able to add channels simply by shuffling them between the transponders, without even having to worry about extra capacity. Beyond that, the normal schedule of adding new sats and replacing aged ones should be swift enough not to hold up the process of launching HD channels. That's why I said HD channels should be able to launch pretty much when they want to, rather than claiming every channel could go HD tomorrow (which would not be possible). With satellite, the availability of HD slots is reasonably well matched to demand.

This isn't the case with Freeview, where the whole broadcast infrastructure has been crippled by OFCOM's refusal to allocate the current analogue UHF channels for future TV services. They simply haven't left enough room to deliver everything in HD with current technology, and once they've flogged off the spectrum there never will be enough room for the current technology.

Re: Terrestrial TV
 

That's what was worrying me about your statement..

I don;t believe that they have enough room for every SD channel to be HD, even though HD is more compressed in it's mp4 state it would still need more bandwidth than the current mp2 layout (might though be wrong there??)

Re: Terrestrial TV
 

No, they definitely couldn't switch everything to HD tomorrow and expect it to fit. The trick is to match supply and demand, and so far as I can see the sat operators have that pretty much under control. OFCOM, on the other hand, has royally screwed up the long-term prospects of the UK ever having a comprehensive, free-to-air terrestrial HD service.

Despite ITV's bizarre flirtation with Sky, Freesat still provides the only long-term solution for people who want to move from SD to HD in the same way as our parents moved from 405 to 625.

Re: Terrestrial TV
 

:tu: I think for your statement "Freesat is the only platform in the UK today that is capable of delivering HD, free-to-air broadcast slots to each channel as and when that channel is ready to commence an HD service" to happen then they would need more sats up there, but I think that was and has always been the plan (just look at sky who have gone through many sats in their years of service (currently they have three sats but have had 10 previous carrying sky services including analogue))