Enjoy the more popular HD channel line up including BBC HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. Plus, get up to 50 channels and 24 radio stations available with standard Freeview.

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The BBC today announces it will broadcast live 3D coverage to homes across the UK for the first time, when it broadcasts the men’s and ladies’ finals of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships via the BBC’s HD Channel.

The free-to-air broadcast of the Championships in 3D will be available to anyone who has access to a 3D TV set and to HD channels, regardless of which digital TV provider they use.

The live 3D coverage of the ladies’ and men’s finals on Saturday 2 July and Sunday 3 July will mark the 125th anniversary of the Wimbledon Championships.

The BBC’s coverage is being provided in partnership with the AELTC and Sony Professional.

This is one of a small number of 3DTV editorial experiments the BBC is currently undertaking, on behalf of licence payers.

Coverage of the Championship Finals will also be available in Standard Definition (SD) on BBC One and in High Definition (HD) on BBC One HD.

Danielle Nagler, Head of BBC HD and 3D, says:

“I’m delighted that in this anniversary year we’re bringing UK audiences a new way of getting close to the action on Centre Court. I’m sure that 3D will only add to the drama as the world’s greatest players compete for the championship.”

Paul Davies, BBC Executive Producer, Sport, says:

“During our 75 years of televising the Wimbledon Championships the BBC has continually broken new ground in broadcasting techniques. This unique 3D transmission is the latest innovation to bring to life all the tension, drama and excitement on one of the most iconic sporting arenas in the world.”

George Entwistle, Director of BBC Vision, says:

“We know how much audiences already enjoy the BBC’s Wimbledon television coverage. This is a hugely important experiment for us and I’m pleased that we have the opportunity to show some of our stunning sports coverage to our audiences, in 3D, for free.”

As well as coverage on BBC One, BBC One HD, BBC Two and the BBC HD channel, viewers will be able to follow the championships via BBC Online, who will be streaming all the live action direct to viewers’ PCs and offering live text commentaries via the mobile service.

BBC Red Button will also offer a wide range of viewing options throughout Wimbledon and with BBC Radio 5 Live providing extensive coverage, interviews and commentary from Wimbledon, there are more ways than ever to follow the excitement and action this year.

BBC iPlayer will be offering up to two full matches every day of the tournament. Today At Wimbledon will also be available on demand from BBC iPlayer in HD and SD.

In a press release today:

The BBC is also pleased to announce that Eddie Jordan will return to the BBC F1 TV presentation team in 2011, in an expanded role as primary analyst. Eddie’s role will this year see him take on a wider remit, as his fellow analyst David Coulthard assumes additional commentary duties.

Completing the TV line-up for 2011, Jake Humphrey will anchor the coverage for his third season, with Lee McKenzie and Ted Kravitz once again in place as reporters. It was announced yesterday that Martin Brundle takes on the new role of lead commentator, with David Coulthard as co-commentator alongside analyst duties.

Ben Gallop, BBC Head of F1, says

“It’s fantastic that Eddie is rejoining the team, and this year in a more expanded role. He’s such a core character with his outspoken views, unrivalled contacts in the sport and his ability to unearth the stories from the paddock. We’re also delighted to be broadcasting in HD, something we know fans have been waiting for and it will really add something extra to our coverage for 2011.”

Eddie Jordan says:

“It’s been a great two years so far and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the circuit, the 2011 season looks like it has plenty in store for us all. The new set up will give me even more opportunity to get to the heart of the issues in Formula 1 and tell the real stories to the viewers.”

Danielle Nagler, Head of BBC HD and 3D, says:

“Along with many, many HD viewers, I’m delighted that we’ll have a chance next season to see Formula 1 in all its glory on television. It’s fantastic news that FOM has decided to green light HD broadcasts, and we’re looking forward to sharing with the fans all the races in all their detail on BBC One HD and BBC HD.”

Formula 1 joins a strong line-up of sports already broadcast in HD on the BBC including Wimbledon, all live golf, the Grand National and the Six Nations.

Further scheduling details will be released in due course.

Freeview HD is now available to 50% of the UK population, including homes in Manchester, London, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and the majority of Wales. You can check to see if Freeview HD is available in your area with the Freeview HD Post Code Tool

Households in the coverage areas will be able to watch the World Cup tournament in up to five times more detail than standard definition television via ITV1 HD and the BBC HD channel.

Currently there are four HD channels available on Freeview. These include BBC HD, ITV HD, Channel 4 HD and S4C Clirlun. The BBC will also be launching BBC 1 HD later this year

South Africa 2010 will be the first time that a World Cup has been available in HD to a mass market in the UK, marking the biggest step change since the tournament was first broadcast in colour for the 1970 Mexico World Cup.

Following the football tournament, Freeview HD will continue to roll out in-line with the digital switchover towards the target of 98.5% availability in Britain by the end of 2012.

As recently as two years ago some industry experts said it was impossible to ever get HD on digital terrestrial TV (Freeview), without using more radio airwaves – technically known as spectrum.

This is a finite natural resource, in high demand. And HD is spectrum hungry, demanding roughly four times as much as standard definition. This meant there was not enough bandwidth available to broadcast HD on digital terrestrial TV (DTT).

Against all the odds, Ofcom’s Spectrum Policy Group worked on a complex plan to create the extra room needed for HD on DTT.

Greg Bensberg, who led the team, said:

“Two years ago, the promise of HD on Freeview hung in the balance. HD demanded large amounts of additional spectrum – but there was none to be had.

“Fortunately we identified a way of achieving what many thought was impossible – by reorganising existing TV services and introducing two new technologies – MPEG-4 and DVB-T2. This created enough capacity for five HD channels on Freeview.”

The majority of viewers will come into coverage at the same time that they go through digital switchover – including viewers in Manchester covering Preston, Blackburn, Bolton, Manchester and Liverpool in December 2009 and those in Cardiff, who will get Freeview HD by the end of March 2010. For the 7% of the UK population who switched before December 2009, a retrofit programme will bring them into coverage before the end of November 2010. 

Remember: To receive Freeview HD you must wait until Freeview HD has been enabled in your area this could happen before your official digital switchover date as the Freesat HD rollout has been accelerated.

Please check your post code with the Freeview HD free tool
before purchasing any Freeview HD product just to be sure!

HD programmes have already begun to be broadcast on Freeview in parts of the country and HD Freeview boxes will be available in the shops shortly.

Ofcom’s consultation asks whether the BBC, through its subsidiary Freeview, should be granted a change to its multiplex licence

According to Ofcom, the BBC’s proposals would allow it to require the use of content management technology in HD receivers to control the way films and TV shows are copied on to Blu-ray and DVDs and shared with others over the internet.

Under the BBC proposals, viewers would still be able to record the BBC’s and other free to air broadcasters HD content on to their digital video recorders.

The BBC argues that this would ensure that rights holders, such as film and TV production companies, provide the widest possible range of HD content on the digital terrestrial TV platform.

The consultation closes on 2 April 2010.

The full proposal can be seen on the Ofcom Website

On launch BBC HD and ITV HD were available, Channel 4 HD is expected to follow in time for the main commercial launch in March/Spring 2010. Five HD is expected to launch late in 2010. ITV HD is currently broadcasting an up-scaled version of ITV1. It remains to be seen if ITV1 HD will continue or whether  ITV will use ITV HD as a dedicated channel like the BBC do with BBC HD.

Currently no Freeview HD set top boxes are available to the public but testing  and production are well under way for the full public launch in March/Spring 2010.

The BBC showcased live HD transmissions on digital terrestrial television at the BBC Media Centre.

BBC head of broadcast infrastructure James Jackson said that today’s launch has brought Freeview HD to 23% of the UK, which will grow to 40% next year when a series of advanced networks in key metropolitan areas come online.

In order to bring the benefits of HD on Freeview to as many people as quickly as possible, the Freeview HD rollout has been accelerated with an advance network so that viewers in London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Bradford and Birmingham receive signals by the end of March 2010.

The majority of viewers will come into coverage at the same time that they go through digital switchover – including viewers in Manchester in December 2009 and those in Cardiff, who will get Freeview HD by the end of March 2010. For the 7% of the UK population who switched before December 2009, a retrofit programme will bring them into coverage before the end of November 2010.

New DVB-T2 technology will deliver an increase in capacity of 67% to the BBC’s Multiplex B, efficiently creating the space needed for UK public service broadcasters’ HD transmissions. The UK will be the first country in the world to launch this new standard, and its successful implementation is the result of pioneering work by the BBC in collaboration with partners including Ofcom, Arqiva, Siemens and receiver manufacturers. To view Freeview HD, audiences will need equipment containing this new technology. Freeview HD receivers (set-top boxes, digital television recorders and integrated televisions) will be available from early 2010.

From January 2010, viewers will be able to use the Freeview website to find out when HD services will be available at their postcode. The BBC is also working closely with Digital UK to ensure that information about Freeview HD is made available as part of digital switchover communications.

Caroline Thomson, the BBC’s chief operating officer, said:

“This is a terrific step forward, and it’s a great achievement that the BBC and its partners have been able to work together to overcome some really difficult technical challenges to bring HD to the Freeview platform through world-leading innovation. We’re really excited about the prospect of seeing BBC HD and HD channels from the other public service broadcasters on Freeview next year.”

Ilse Howling, Freeview’s Managing Director, said:

“This is great news for the millions of Freeview homes and viewers who are looking forward to getting high definition with no subscription next year.”

Richard Lindsay-Davies, Director General of the Digital TV Group (DTG), the organisation that publishes the technical specification for Freeview and Freeview HD, said:

“This is a landmark moment in UK broadcasting history. The launch of Freeview HD consolidates the UK’s position as a global leader in the deployment of digital television services.

While this is a fantastic technical achievement the success of any service is defined by the consumer experience. The World Cup in 2010 will be a key driver for Freeview HD take-up and broadcasters, platform operators and the consumer electronics industry have worked hard to ensure that it can be enjoyed in high definition on the Freeview platform.”

[1] 1.5% of the population are unable to receive any Freeview services; these audience members have the option of using the Freesat service.

Timetable (Freeview HD signal availability commences at switchover unless otherwise stated)

England

Area – transmitter group – date

Manchester, Winter Hill, 2 December 2009
London, Crystal Palace, 2 December 2009 – advance network
Newcastle and Tyneside, Pontop Pike, February 2010 – advance network
Leeds/Bradford, Emley Moor, March 2010 – advance network
Birmingham, Lichfield, March 2010 – advance network
Liverpool, central Lancashire, Cheshire, north Staffordshire, Winter Hill relays, March 2010 – retrofit
Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Stockland Hill, April 2010 – retrofit
Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Mendip, April 2010
Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, Beacon Hill, Caradon Hill, Huntshaw Cross, Redruth August 2010 – retrofit
Cumbria and the Lake District, Caldbeck, October 2010 – retrofit

Then Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme, so:

2011 – Bedfordshire, Berkshire (parts), Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, East Midlands, East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire (parts), Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands (remainder), and West Yorkshire (remainder).

2012 – Berkshire (remainder), County Durham, Greater London (remainder), Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Surrey, Sussex, Teesside, Tyneside.

Wales

Cardiff, Newport, Wenvoe, March 2010
Swansea, Kilvey Hill, March 2010 – retrofit
West and central Wales, Blaenplwyf, March 2010
Carmarthenshire, Carmel, April 2010 – retrofit
Rest of Wales, Long Mountain, Moel y Parc, Presely mid-June 2010 – retrofit
Anglesey, Llanddona, July 2010 – retrofit

Wales will have switched over to digital and the roll-out of Freeview HD will be complete by the end of July 2010.

Scotland

Glasgow, central Scotland, Black Hill, February 2010 – advance network
Shetland, Bressay, May 2010
Orkney, Keelylang Hill, May 2010
Caithness, North Sutherland, Rumster Forest, mid-June 2010
Lewis, Wester Ross, North West Sutherland, Western Isles, Eitshal Skriaig, July 2010
Angus, Dundee, Perth, and parts of Fife, Angus, August 2010
Aberdeenshire, Durris, September 2010
Morayshire, Strathspey, and parts of Easter Ross, Knockmore, October 2010
South West Scotland, Caldbeck Scotland, October 2010
Inverness and the Great Glen, Rosemarkie, October 2010
South West Highlands and Islands, Torosay, October 2010
Scottish Borders, Selkirk, November 2010 – retrofit

Then Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme so that the whole of Scotland is switched over to digital and will be able to receive Freeview HD by the end of Q2, 2011.

Northern Ireland

Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme so that the whole of Northern Ireland is switched over to digital and will be able to receive Freeview HD by the end of 2012.

Other areas

Isle of Man, Douglas, October 2010 – retrofit
Channel Islands, Fremont Point, end 2010

Source: BBC Press Release

The new DVB-T2 technology will deliver an increase in capacity of 67% to the BBC’s Multiplex B, efficiently creating the space needed for UK public service broadcasters’ HD transmissions.

The BBC and Arqiva will be the first organisations in the world to deploy the DVB-T2 technology into full operational service across an entire transmission network.

The upgrade programme, which runs alongside the BBC’s main digital television transmission agreement, will start by launching Freeview HD services in the North West of England from December this year.

From then on, the new technology will roll-out with digital switchover at each transmitter, with most areas which have switched over already being upgraded before the end of 2010.

In addition, the BBC has made arrangements with Arqiva to build a small network of five additional transmitters which will bring HD services to certain key metropolitan areas ahead of their planned switchover dates.

London will benefit from the end of 2009, with transmitters for Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Leeds/Bradford due to be on-air during spring 2010.

Speaking about these developments, Alix Pryde, Controller of BBC Distribution, said:

“The BBC’s agreements with Arqiva to build the High Definition infrastructure for DTT represent an important step forward that sets us on course for a successful launch in December this year. We look forward to confirming later this autumn our plans with Freeview for the consumer launch of HD services.”

Matthew Postgate, Controller Research & Development BBC, said:

“The BBC has a long and distinguished history in developing technologies for the benefit of the wider media industry and consumer, and the work of our R&D team is as important in the digital age as it ever has been. The pioneering work of the team in creating the standard, in partnership with DVB, has been instrumental in bringing HD to terrestrial TV and will allow Freeview to build on its phenomenal success.”

Steve Holebrook, managing director of terrestrial broadcast for Arqiva, the transmission company who will build the network, said:

“This is a fantastic development for Freeview and we’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring this new technology to market as quickly as possible. Once again, we in the UK are leading the world in television technology and this should stimulate the DVB-T2 market throughout Europe.”

Source: BBC Press Release

About Arqiva
Arqiva operates at the heart of the broadcast and mobile communications industry and is at the forefront of network solutions and services in an increasingly digital world. The company provides much of the infrastructure behind television, radio and wireless communications in the UK and has a growing presence in Ireland, mainland Europe and the USA. There are three business units:

Terrestrial Broadcast provides transmission for all UK terrestrial TV broadcasters, including the new networks being built for the Digital Switch Over. Transmission is also provided for BBC Radio and most commercial radio stations, both analogue and DAB. The company owns and operates two of the six UK digital terrestrial TV multiplexes, enabling major media companies to bring their TV and radio services to Freeview.

Satellite & Media provides global communication platforms to enterprise, government and broadcast customers around the world. It owns and operates teleports at key locations including Los Angeles, Washington, London and Paris, as well as comprehensive satellite capacity, an international terrestrial fibre network and extensive media facilities. These enable Arqiva to provide world leading organisations with a comprehensive range of services to deliver their data, broadcasts and media across the globe.

Wireless Access provides cellular, wireless broadband, voice and data solutions for the mobile communications, public safety, local government, and commercial markets. Arqiva is the largest independent provider of radio sites in the UK and Ireland. With its own spectrum, the company can provide complete mobile communications networks including backhaul links.

Arqiva has its headquarters near Winchester and other major UK offices in London, Warwick, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire. The company is owned by a consortium of investors led by CPPIB. Major customers include the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BSkyB, Classic FM, the five UK mobile operators and the emergency services.