BBC on the hunt for new channel for Freeview HD

If C4 went for the second slot alone, I wonder this time whether they would push Film4 or E4. I think as a platform a movie channel in HD is a bigger asset, but as a commercial broadcaster I think E4 HD would probably make more sense for C4.

I don't understand the clamour for Film4 on HD, why with the limited range of catalogue available, Channel 4 simply don't have funding available for them to buy in more.

I think the best option would be to have BBC HD, but re-name it something like BBC HD Mix, that would show HD programs from BBC2,3 & 4 as well as other live HD programs such as sport. Then they should have BBC 1 HD.

By doing this, there woud be very few clashes (for the moment anyway), I cant think of an occasions when there has been more than 2 HD programs on at once, but this could change when more and more programs are made in HD.

David,

It's happening on Sunday, when Johnathan Creek on BBC1 is on against Wonders of The Solar System on BBC2. JC is being shown on BBC HD after Solar System.

David

This is what I mean... JC would be shown on BBC1 HD and the wonders of the solar system would go on BBC HD! It makes sense when two programs clash.

David,

At the moment it is not unusual for two of the main networks to be showing SD versions of shows made in HD. It is not inconceivable that BBC Four could as well during Prom Season (and at other times when showing drama). BBC Three probably has the least amount of HD content - but that too is changing (EastEnders will be HD at some point - they've just bought 12 HD studio cameras, and I believe a couple of XD Cam HD camcorders for location shoots, for Elstree).

Having just a single HD outlet will increasingly be an issue - it is already...

BBC One HD is a no-brainer - a permanent simulcast of BBC One, with SD programmes upconverted, and HD content shown in HD. There's more than enough HD content - from daytime (Doctors, Helicopter Heroes etc.), to kids (CBeebies and CBBC content is being shot in HD), to drama (pretty much everything) and sport (again a lot of stuff) - probably more than any other terrestrial.

If this is branded as BBC One HD - then you do have a problem with the other channel showing HD content from BBC Two, Three, Four, CBBC and CBeebies? BBC HD Extra? BBC HD Mix (sounds a bit too Sky for me), BBC HD 2 (but there isn't a BBC HD 1), BBC HD Plus?

Do you brand them as two HD channels - BBC HD One, and BBC HD Two? No - it still sounds like HD versions of BBC One and Two.

Maybe that would be a solution - just simulcast BBC One and Two in HD? BBC Three and Four, along with CBBC and CBeebies, get tiny audiences in comparison to One and Two in SD - and most of their high-profile stuff will get an airing on BBC One or Two at a later date?

Does mean the sport that is on BBC Three and the Proms that are on BBC Four might drop out though - so I don't see it happening...

The one thing with BBC One HD is that overnight it would be upscaling News 24. Therefore there is the possibility that the down hours could be used to show "specialist" shows that they had trouble squeezing onto HD Extra. e.g. Proms.

Given that both sky and virgin's HD boxes include a PVR and several freesat boxes do as well it might be a workable temporary solution.

Any plans for BBC News to go HD (the main bulletins anyway) when it switches to broadcasting house?

It would probably be best treating them like Sky Sports HD1 and HD2 were originally - predominantly a simulcast of BBC1/2, but where it's possible BBC3/4 programming could use the channels for HD programming.

And talking of Sky Sports, now they have HD channels for SS1-4, are they upscaling anything that isn't native HD?

I believe it is likely that the production studios at BH will be HD capable - and I suspect this means that the studios will run HD permanently. However viewers may only see HD content on mainstream channels initially (until capacity for an HD News Channel appears somewhere?)



Sky still show 4:3 SD content on their HD sport channels - which is upscaled. Bizarrely, unlike Sky 1 HD, rather than pillarbox 4:3 SD stuff, they stretch it to 16:9 distorting it. (I guess because they think sports viewers will get annoyed by the black bars on the left and right...)

I am thinking that if a twin BBC channel idea is adopted then both channels should still have some independence from a prime channel. HD1 would normally simulcast BBC ONE between 1700 and 0915, I'd let HD1 also take some CBBC and CBeebies output as well though, between 0915 and 1700, but be pre-emptable if the second 'evening' HD2 channel which would show a mix of TWO, THREE, FOUR was 'stuck'.

As for News, Can't see the point of HD content there, would be a desirable, but not essential feature with a low priority.

There could be the possibility of leasing the weekday daytime slot on HD2 to another broadcaster if a compelling offer was made for it.