ITV, C4 worry over Freeview HD funding

ITV and Channel 4 have questioned whether they have adequate funds for the launch of high definition channels on Freeview.

Last October, the two public service broadcasters were awarded licences by Ofcom to launch HD services on digital terrestrial television. Multiplex B is to be reconfigured, in line with digital switchover, to carry three HD services: one each from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, and Spare spectrum in major cities may be used to launch HD services earlier than regional switchover dates would ordinarily permit.

Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan told the House of Commons culture select committee that both broadcasters were talking to the BBC about funding options. "I would say there's a problem for us and for ITV in terms of the funding going forward," he admitted.

Channel 4, which will share its slot in Wales with S4C Digidol, said it may offer an on-demand service or sub-let capacity during overnight hours. At other times, the channel would carry HD programming from Channel 4. ITV, which operates a red-button HD service exclusively available on Freesat, plans to broadcast ITV1's primetime schedule in HD on Freeview, sub-letting its capacity outside prime to other providers.

A spokesperson for ITV said the broadcaster was continuing "to explore the viability of launching an HD service on Freeview".