Feature: What would the BBC HD schedule look like?

The BBC Trust has launched a consultation into its proposals to launch a dedicated high definition (HD) channel following a trial of the service over the last twelve months. But what would this channel offer, and who would be able to access it? DS takes a look at the blueprints for BBC HD.

Broadcasting hours

At launch in November this year, BBC HD would broadcast an initial schedule of three to four hours a day in primetime hours. The "launch" of BBC HD would be transparent to the viewer: essentially it would represent the conversion of the existing trial into an ongoing service.

Over the next year, BBC HD's transmission hours would gradually increase to a full schedule of nine hours per day - 3pm to midnight - by the end of 2008.

BBC HD would have "some flexibility" to air beyond its normal hours for the broadcast of live sport, music and national events.

Availability

BBC HD would be available on Sky and digital cable, in place of the current trial service. It will also form part of the FreeSat lineup when it launches next year.

A launch on DTT, in some form or other - read on for the various options - would follow in mid-2008 as the analogue signal is switched off on a region-by-region basis.

The DTT problem

As capacity is rare over digital terrestrial, launching a space-consuming HD channel is a controversial move. The corporation is lobbying the government to allocate it bandwidth for BBC HD, post-analogue shutdown in each region, and will broadcast the full nine-hour schedule if so.

If it fails to win dedicated space for BBC HD, and in the pre-shutdown interim, the BBC is proposing a reduced, overnight service between the hours of 2am and 6am. This would steal excess capacity from the SD versions of BBC Four, BBC Parliament, the two BBCi streams and the BBCi interactive news feed.

The overnight DTT feed would show programmes in advance of the following evening's schedule, subject to rights clearances. For example, an episode of Torchwood airing on BBC HD on Sunday night could be shown on the DTT variant early on Sunday morning. The BBC reasons: "This would allow DTT viewers with the necessary equipment to record the programme in HD in advance and - if they choose to do so - to watch the recorded HD programme at the same time that it is available in HD to audiences on other platforms."

Content

The BBC describes BBC HD as a "mixed-genre service", taking programming from across the BBC's channels and genres.

At launch later this year, the mix would reflect the type of programming available in HD at the time: typically high impact programmes from the genres of natural history, drama, arts, music, live events and sport.

The indicative launch schedule for weekdays is as follows:



As more HD content is commissioned, the content mix would become "more representative of BBC television as a whole", including wide-reaching programmes such as EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City.

At least 95% of programming would be HD versions of shows broadcast on other BBC channels. Up to 5% of content would be programming commissioned for the channel itself, largely comprising short filler items repurposed from existing series.

Approximately half the content would come from BBC One, 30% from BBC Two and the remainder from BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies.

The indicative weekday schedule for BBC HD from end 2008:



To have your say on the BBC proposals, join in with the BBC Trust's consultation here.