Freeview, the UK’s biggest digital TV service, today confirmed that six additional HD channels will be available to viewers from 10 December 2013, taking Freeview’s total HD offering to ten channels.
Launching in time for Christmas, viewers will be able to access more of their favourite festive treats in the highest quality from the comfort of their sofas. So whether it’s Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education on BBC Three HD, the New Year’s Day concert from Vienna on BBC Four HD, A Christmas Carol on CBeebies HD or a Dumping Ground Special on CBBC HD, all the family can enjoy more of the programmes they love, in HD.
The addition of BBC News HD and Al Jazeera English HD means there will be no shortage of cutting edge news and in-depth reporting over the festive period and beyond.
Ilse Howling, Managing Director at Freeview said: “We are really pleased to be more than doubling the number of HD channels available to Freeview viewers. Freeview HD is already enjoyed in 3.4 million UK homes and these additional channels will allow them to watch even more of their favourite programmes for free, in stunning HD.”
At launch, BBC Three HD and CBBC HD will be available to 98.5% of UK homes. Coverage from Al Jazeera English HD, BBC News HD, BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD will extend to cover 70% of UK homes by the Wimbledon Championships in June 2014.
Many viewers will have noticed the channels appearing on Freeview’s TV Guide in the last few weeks, while an updated postcode checker allows viewers to check which HD channels they can receive at their current address.
About Freeview
Freeview is a subscription-free TV service offering over 50 standard digital TV channels, radio stations and interactive services through an aerial with no monthly bills. Over 95% of the most watched programmes in the UK are available on Freeview. In addition, four free HD channels are currently available with Freeview HD – BBC One HD, BBC Two HD, ITV1 HD and Channel4 HD.
Freeview is managed by DTV Services Ltd, a company owned and run by its five shareholders – BBC, BSkyB, Channel 4, ITV and Arqiva.