ITV1 HD

Apologies if this has already being dicussed in the ITV thread. In the radio times, in small text underneath programmes which can also be viewed in HD, it says available in HD on ITV HD via red button for freesat viewers. It then goes on to say it can also be viewed in HD for free to view satellite viewers on the ITV1 HD channel.

Now as far as I was aware, there is not currently an ITV1 HD channel and secondly ITV HD is only available on the freesat platform (not on sky HD). So am I missing something here, or is this an error in RT. If it's the latter, then it has been there for a few weeks now, so I'm surprised they haven't altered it.

Some FTA receivers, other receivers and satellite TV PCI cards can tune in ITV HD and save it as a channel. NOT a Sky box though, the receiver has to have some option to manually enter PIDS.

Works fine on my Dreambox DM800, whenever programmes are not on there is just a slide saying its unavailable. Very uninteresting really - http://www.flickr.com/photos/freesathd/2493572182/in/set-72157605079161087/ screenshot from snoods from Digitalspy.

I don't really see how it's to ITV's advantage not to make it available on Sky HD. Yes, they are stakeholders in Freesat but I don't think ITV HD is going to be enough to get people to dump Sky for Freesat.

Aren't Sky shareholders in ITV?

I can't say I agree with you on that one. I actually think good for them and personally I believe the BBC should have done the same. Why the hell should the public become have to become subscribers to enjoy these basic HD channels? I've despised Sky for a long time - I'm just waiting for the Freesat+ box to come out and I'm done with Sky.

I'm sure you don't need a subscription to recieve a FTA HD channel... according to the BBC HD website you don't need to subscribe to Sky HD to recieve the BBC HD channel, simply having the box will do.

At work we are waiting for Sky to change over our (commercial) subscription from our old SD box to the new HD box. The HD box therefore is currently "subscription-less", and has no problem picking up BBC HD.

Because of the ITV HD thing, we also have to have a Freesat box sat on top of the Sky HD box, instead of just having the one reciever. I'd imagine most people with a Sky HD box wouldn't go to the effort of getting another STB just to get one channel.

No subscription is required for BBC HD or Luxe HD, and all H264 DVB-S receivers will receive them. Both are broadcast FTA (Free to Air) using DVB-S.

No subscription is required for Channel Four HD, but it is encrypted using Sky's Videoguard system and requires a FTV (Free to View) or Sky viewing card. It is broadcast using DVB-S2. There are ways of receiving this using a non-Sky receiver / PC solution with a valid Sky / FTV viewing card.

ITV HD is DVB-S and also FTA - but using a non-standard system - so FTA receivers (and PC solutions) require slightly clever PID forcing to ensure the video and audio stream are correctly received.

None of them require any subscription - though C4HD and ITVHD have more specific requirements than BBC HD and Luxe HD.

The Sky HD subscription is ONLY required to get the HD subscription services.

I'm not saying people should have to subscribe to get the HD channels - what I'm saying is current Sky subscribers with HD boxes shouldn't have to buy a FreesatHD box in addition to their Sky HD box to get ITV HD.

Not even Freesat viewers with Freesat HD boxes can always view ITV HD ! There is a 'Red Button' interactive style linkage used from ITV SD (England and Wales only) My parents have a Freesat HD box, and that feature often fails to work. For instance they can't access the football match tonight. Digital Spy postings suggest they are not alone with that often failing to work in some regions. All in all, not very good is it ?

(Of course, unless you do live in England, Wales or Border TV's region, you cannot see ITV HD unless you change the box's postcode to fool it)

I assume that anyone who's bought one of the new Humax HD PVRs will be unable to record ITV HD if it's only available on the 'red button' ?

I spoke to one of Humax's engineers at IBC in Sept, apparently you will be able to record ITV HD, although he wouldn't be drawn on how that would work !