What is DVB-T2?
High Definition Television, HD or HDTV is a revolutionary technology that displays sharper, higher resolution pictures with up to five times more detail than traditional (standard definition) television systems. HDTV content contains vivid colours and crystal clear surround sound is also included in some HD programmes.
Sky, Virgin, and Freesat all provide HD services through either satellite or cable. In April 2008, UK regulator Ofcom announced plans for up to four high- definition digital TV channels to be delivered via a TV aerial on Freeview.
A new high capacity delivery standard: DVB-T2 has been introduced to deliver the Freeview HD service. DVB-T2 is an extension of the existing standard DVB-T that is used to transmit current Freeview broadcasts. A new video compression standard: MPEG-4 AVC has also been introduced to create sharper and more detailed high definition pictures.
The Freeview HD service is currently launching on a region by region basis, in parallel with switchover, across the UK.
On 2 December 2009 the Winter Hill transmitter, serving Manchester and Liverpool was the first to start transmitting DVB-T2 signals, with transmissions from the Crystal Palace transmitter serving London launching on the same day.
BBC HD, ITV1 HD, C4HD (and S4C in Wales) are currently available on the Freeview HD service. Commercial Public Service Broadcasters will have the opportunity to apply for a fouth HD slot from 2012.
To receive Freeview HD consumers will need to purchase new integrated Freeview HD TVs or Freeview HD set-top boxes and recorders to work with their existing HD Ready TV's. When you're buying a Freeview product, look out for the Freeview HD logo. This ensures you're buying a Freeview approved product which means you'll be able to access all the Freeview HD channels as well as the standard 50 Freeview channels.
When the World Cup kicked off in June 2010 HD DVB-T2 services were available to 50% of the UK population with coverage rising to 60% later this year and to 98.5% when digital switchover is completed in 2012.
HD Roll-out timetable
England
| Area | Transmitter group | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | Winter Hill | 2 December 2009 | |
| London | Crystal Palace | 2 December 2009 | Advance network |
| Newcastle and Tyneside | Pontop Pike | February 2010 | Advance network |
| Leeds / Bradford | Emley Moor | March 2010 | Advance network |
| Birmingham | Lichfield | March 2010 | Advance network |
| Liverpool, central Lancashire, Cheshire, north Staffordshire | Winter Hill relays | March 2010 | retrofit |
| Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset, Dorset | Stockland Hill | April 2010 | retrofit |
| Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire | Mendip | April 2010 | |
| Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly | Beacon Hill, Caradon Hill, Huntshaw Cross, Redruth | August 2010 | retrofit |
| Cumbria and the Lake District | Caldbeck | October 2010 | retrofit |
Then Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme, so:
2011
Bedfordshire, Berkshire (parts), Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, East Midlands, East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire (parts), Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands (remainder), and West Yorkshire (remainder).
2012
Berkshire (remainder), County Durham, Greater London (remainder), Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Surrey, Sussex, Teesside, Tyneside.
Wales
| Area | Transmitter group | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff, Newport | Wenvoe | March 2010 | |
| Swansea | Kilvey Hill | March 2010 | retrofit |
| west and central Wales | Blaenplwyf | March 2010 | |
| Carmarthenshire | Carmel | April 2010 | retrofit |
| rest of Wales | Long Mountain, Moel y Parc, Presely | Mid-June 2010 | retrofit |
| Anglesey | Llanddona | July 2010 | retrofit |
Wales will have switched over to digital and the roll-out of Freeview HD will be complete by the end of July 2010.
Scotland
| Area | Transmitter group | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow, central Scotland | Black Hill | March 2010 | Advance network |
| Shetland | Bressay | May 2010 | |
| Orkney | Keelylang Hill | May 2010 | |
| Caithness, North Sutherland | Rumster Forest | Mid - June 2010 | |
| Lewis, Wester Ross, North West Sutherland, Western Isles | Eitshal, Skriaig | July 2010 | |
| Angus, Dundee, Perth, and parts of Fife | Angus | August 2010 | |
| Aberdeenshire | Durris | September 2010 | |
| Morayshire, Strathspey, and parts of Easter Ross | Knockmore | October 2010 | |
| South West Scotland | Caldbeck Scotland | October 2010 | |
| Inverness and the Great Glen | Rosemarkie | October 2010 | |
| South West Highlands and Islands | Torosay | October 2010 | |
| Scottish Borders | Selkirk | November 2010 | retrofit |
Northern Ireland
Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme so that the whole of Northern Ireland is switched over to digital and will be able to receive Freeview HD by the end of 2012.
Other areas
| Area | Transmitter group | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Man | Douglas | October 2010 | retrofit |
| Channel Islands | Fremont Point | end 2010 |