ITV1 HD
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| ITV1 HD | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 9 June 2006 (trial service) 7 June 2008 (full service) |
| Owned by | ITV plc |
| Picture format | 16:9, 1080i (HDTV) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Formerly called | ITV HD (until 2009) |
| Website | http://www.itv.com/hd/ |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 51 |
| Satellite | |
| Freesat | Channel 103 (Via Red Button) Channel 119 (from 2 April 2010) |
| Sky Digital | Channel 178 (from 2 April 2010) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 113 (from 2 April 2010) |
ITV1 HD is a British free-to-air high-definition television channel operated by ITV plc, the company which is contracted to provide 11 ITV services across the UK. ITV1 HD is available to view in the United Kingdom on Freesat via the red button whilst watching ITV and Freeview channel 51. From 2 April 2010, ITV1 HD will become a standard channel available on all platforms.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 2006 trial
The channel originally existed on a trial basis from June until November 2006, primarily to show the World Cup games to which ITV had the rights.
The channel was available to subscribers of the Telewest "TV Drive" cable service, and was also broadcast as a low-power digital terrestrial (DVB-T) channel from London's Crystal Palace Transmitter as part of a terrestrial HDTV trial involving 450 homes. ITV HD did not broadcast on Satellite TV, unlike BBC HD. It was available on Telewest channel 118 and Freeview channel 503 in homes which were involved in the HD trial.
In addition to the World Cup games, ITV HD showed classic films remastered in HD (such as All Quiet on the Western Front and The Big Sleep), documentaries (such as Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures) and dramas such as Poirot.
The original ITV HD stopped broadcasting on the 30 November 2006.
[edit] 2008 launch
High definition broadcasts from ITV plc launched exclusively on Freesat[1], the new digital satellite service from the BBC and ITV on 7 June 2008, just in time for the start of UEFA Euro 2008. ITV plc plans to spend £10m during 2008 on the launch of ITV HD.[2] ITV HD is currently unavailable on STV and UTV due to these channels being unwilling to give their viewers access to the ITV branded service. However, it is available in Scotland and Northern Ireland on ITV1 London (Freesat channel 977).
[edit] Freeview and 2009 rebrand
ITV HD became ITV1 HD when it relaunched for Freeview HD on 2 December 2009.[3] It continues to operate on Freesat as a red button service on select programming.
ITV1 HD will include 35% 'native HD' content at the start of 2010, rising to at least 60% at the start of 2012 and at least 70% at the start of 2014. In the early years the service will focus on sport and drama content, over time it is expected that the majority of other genres to convert to native HD.[4]
ITV1 HD operates from 18:00 to 23:00 seven days a week. The service between the hours of 18:30 and 23:00 (with the exception late regional news slots) consists of a simulcast in HD of the mixed genre ITV1 Granada service. The period between 18:00 and 18:30 comprises of up-converted broadcasts of a range of ITV regional programmes in England and Wales and with a range of local programmes from STV and UTV in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively (when available in those regions). The late regional news slot (typically between the hours of 22:30 to 22:40) consists of short alternative programming.[4]
From August 2009 ITV began testing a HD simulcast of ITV1 Granada on satellite.[5] On 26 November 2009, the ITV1 HD logo appeared as a digital on-screen graphic during programming and the off air station identification.
[edit] 2010 launch as a standard channel
On 12 March 2010 it was announced, that ITV1 HD would become a standard channel on 2 April 2010, simulcasting the main ITV1 channel, and launching on Sky Digital and Virgin Media, as well as switching from a red button interactive service to a full time channel on Freesat.[6]
[edit] Technical problems
ITV1 HD's first HD drama broadcast of Harley Street reportedly suffered technical problems including picture & sound quality and failing to revert to the normal SD broadcast after the programme had finished. Also, several Digital Spy forum members reported that they could not access HD content via the red button due to the ITV1 HD service "only being available through the London region".[7]
[edit] References
- ^ "Confirmed: ITV HD is Freesat exclusive". Digitalspy. 2008-05-06. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a95312/confirmed-itv-hd-is-freesat-exclusive.html. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ^ "HD version of ITV to launch next Spring". Digital Spy. 12 September 2007. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a75516/hd-version-of-itv1-to-launch-next-spring.html. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ "ITV HD will relaunch for Freeview HD". What Satellite & Digital TV. 2009-08-07. http://blog.wotsat.com/page/whatsat?entry=itv_hd_will_relaunch_for.
- ^ a b "MULTIPLEX B NOTICE OF VARIATION". Ofcom. 2009-06-03. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/tvlicensing/muxlicensees/mb/muxbvar9.pdf#page=39.
- ^ "ITV starts ITV1 HD test transmissions". Digital Spy. 2009-08-11. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a170692/itv-starts-itv1-hd-test-transmissions.html.
- ^ "New ITV1 HD channel available on Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin". ITV. 2010-03-12. http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/itv1hdtolaunchinapril/default.html. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
- ^ Satellite - News - First ITV1 HD drama suffers tech problems - Digital Spy
[edit] External links
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