BBC HD may be delayed on Freeview

The BBC Trust has given a provisional go-ahead to BBC HD; however, the channel may not join Freeview until after Ofcom's plans to reorganise the digital terrestrial platform are finalised.

The Trust said that "an HD channel should be provided on Freeview as soon as possible", but noted that any changes to the way in which the digital terrestrial platform operates "could mean licence fee payers having to make two equipment upgrades in a short space of time", because they would have to buy an MPEG-4 compatible decoder to receive the four hour service and then a DVB-T2 compatible set top box if a complete platform reorganisation takes place.

Currently, the BBC executive plans to offer BBC HD as a four hour per day service on Freeview from 02:00 to 06:00 each night, taking down BBC Parliament, BBC Four and the three BBCi interactive streams during that time period to free up capacity. The four hour service would be an interim measure until sufficient spectrum is freed up to offer the full nine hour service that will be carried on satellite and cable. The Trust noted that where the Commons sits all night, BBC Parliament would have supremacy over BBC HD on Freeview - and noted that this would be specified in the channel's service licence.

The Trust's detailed conclusion statement said: "It would be possible for the BBC to launch this service almost immediately. However, the possibility of a major reorganisation of the DTT platform introduces the prospect that future HD services may be provided using the DVB-T2 transmission protocol on a dedicated HD multiplex. This would require consumers to have DVB-T2-capable set-top boxes and so calls into question the proposal to provide a four-hour overnight service on Freeview from next year using the existing DVB-T protocol. On this timescale, users would have to upgrade their set-top boxes in the short-term in order to gain MPEG-4 capability to receive the four-hour interim service. Then they would face a second upgrade to gain DVB-T2 capability in order to receive the full nine-hour service (as well as HD propositions from the other PSBs)."

The Trust's conclusion is, however, provisional and it said it is "particularly interested in the public's view... would people prefer the BBC to launch the service as soon as possible, even if that meant people having to buy two set-top boxes in order to receive the service within a very short period of time." It is accepting comments online.

"We are particularly interested in the public's view about the options for an HD channel on Freeview," explained BBC Trustee Diane Coyle. "Would licence fee payers prefer the BBC to launch a four-hour service immediately, before a nine-hour service is possible because of spectrum capacity, even if that means having to buy two set-top boxes within a very short period of time?"

The Trust expects to publish its final decision on all aspects of BBC HD by November 21.