BBC HD will go on air at 7pm on weeknights during September, it has been confirmed.

Games Today from Paralympics 2008 in Beijing will start the channel's schedule each night. Paralympics coverage in HD will also be available in the afternoons on weekends.

Writing on the BBC Internet blog, the BBC's head of high definition television Danielle Nagler said that she hopes to be "increasing the hours further towards the end of the year".

The BBC Trust has approved BBC HD to run for nine hours daily, extendable during major sports events.