HDTV is coming to Freeview
OFCOM has published its plans to revamp the UK's digital terrestrial television system to enable HDTV services on digital terrestrial system, Freeview.
Operators will be required to adopt 64-QAM encoding, which enables more channels to be broadcast per multiplex.
Currently, only a couple of the six available multiplexes use this mode, with the other four multiplexes using the more robust but lower capacity 16-QAM encoding, introduced in the early days of DTT broadcasting when low power for digital was necessary to avoid co-channel interference with analogue transmissions.
The lower capacity meant a more robust signal, but with the switch off of analogue transmissions over the next few years, the ERP of digital broadcasts can be increased, allowing the more capacious 64-QAM system to be used.
Once the higher-capacity encoding is in place, one multiplex will be cleared for the use of HDTV services, starting in the Manchester area in 2009.
The freed-up multiplex, MUX B, will then be converted to broadcast four MPEG4 HD channels. The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five and Welsh network S4C will be invited to bid for slots, says Ofcom.
New set top boxes will be required to receive the new channels. Oh, and a high-def TV would help, too. ยต
L'Inq
BBC
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...it'll be the same crap signal quality as well...
As per the previous comment. Unless they really manage to pull their fingers out with this one it just aint going to work. Freeview was meant to deliver 'better picture quality and sound' but has failed miserably. The picture quality is atrocious. I'd rather have slightly snowy analogue than blocky, squeaking Freeview.
I have DirecTV in America and a 73" 16:1 HDTV. I get all of the HD offered. However local stations are in SDtv, unless I use an aerial antenna for broadcast HD. So I can stretch 4:1 pulldowns, to remove block outs for aspect ratios, but, LB or letterbox from SDtv will not sync up to the wide format or fill the screen. I don't see why it can't. They can upscale everything to 1080p, why not top and bottom out LB.
I wish that I could get these channels:
ITV, Channel 4, Five and Welsh network S4C and more. All I get is BBC America, which I enjoy mostly.

There's another beef. Why can't we English speaking countries get each other's programming, at least to a better extent. Good luck to you chaps. I have to go DVR the new and last season of "Battlestar Galactica". I'm going to miss it when it's cancelled. Why can't it go on like "Dr. Who". Give my regards to auntie Beeb. I'll be watching/DVRing "Coupling" and "Mitchell and Web Look". I love the Blighty comedy (need more). It came in jolly good during US' writer's strike.