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**Chris** · 26-06-2009, 17:02

You have to look at it in the context of what is already available on Freesat. Look at the broadcasters already on there and ask yourself which of them are making, or are likely to buy the rights to, any HD content which they could then broadcast. The answer is, not many of them.

Most HD programmes broadcast to the UK are premium content - movies and sports - with some documentary and drama, but don't be fooled by the plethora of HD channels on Sky as a lot of what's broadcast on them is just upscaled SD stuff. Freesat, on the other hand, is not a premium content platform.

The BBC will continue to increase its HD output, as will ITV, although probably not as quickly. As has already been noted, Five seems to be gearing up for it. C4 has, as usual, got iself stuck with a contract that ties it exclusively to Sky that probably seemed like a great idea at the time they signed it (goodness only knows why - you would have thought they learned that lesson after tying e4 and more4 into the Sky epg, and they've not long since extricated themselves from that). There are well-founded, but unconfirmed reports that 4HD's exclusivity deal with Sky will expire near the end of this year and that the channel will arrive on Freesat immediately that happens. So, hopefully in time for Christmas.

Beyond that, you can get Luxe HD if you put the box in non-Freesat mode and scan for it; beyond that, well, a lot of free-to-air SD channels aren't even broadcasting 16:9 yet, so that probably gives you some idea how long it will be before HD is the norm!

26-06-2009, 17:02	#3
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 36,993	Re: Freesat HD, greedy for more... You have to look at it in the context of what is already available on Freesat. Look at the broadcasters already on there and ask yourself which of them are making, or are likely to buy the rights to, any HD content which they could then broadcast. The answer is, not many of them. Most HD programmes broadcast to the UK are premium content - movies and sports - with some documentary and drama, but don't be fooled by the plethora of HD channels on Sky as a lot of what's broadcast on them is just upscaled SD stuff. Freesat, on the other hand, is not a premium content platform. The BBC will continue to increase its HD output, as will ITV, although probably not as quickly. As has already been noted, Five seems to be gearing up for it. C4 has, as usual, got iself stuck with a contract that ties it exclusively to Sky that probably seemed like a great idea at the time they signed it (goodness only knows why - you would have thought they learned that lesson after tying e4 and more4 into the Sky epg, and they've not long since extricated themselves from that). There are well-founded, but unconfirmed reports that 4HD's exclusivity deal with Sky will expire near the end of this year and that the channel will arrive on Freesat immediately that happens. So, hopefully in time for Christmas. Beyond that, you can get Luxe HD if you put the box in non-Freesat mode and scan for it; beyond that, well, a lot of free-to-air SD channels aren't even broadcasting 16:9 yet, so that probably gives you some idea how long it will be before HD is the norm!