BBC HD regions - Not long now

[thecaretaker]

The BBC is preparing for full HD coverage of all BBC One regions (and all other BBC channels). The BBC has set up two fallback BBC One (national) SD channels.

Similar to the message viewers currently see on the BBC One HD (national) channel advising viewers to switch to the SD channels to view regional news, the BBC is now showing a similar screen when regional news isn't shown on the fallback SD channels.

bbc1SD.png

https://www.hdsatelliteupgrade.co.uk/
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/re ... d-roll-out

Viewers in England with Freesat, Freeview, Sky, YouView devices will get a better viewing and audio experience from early 2023, as regional versions of BBC One HD (High-Definition) for England will be available for the first time on broadcast platforms

[thecaretaker]

Just before the seasonal holiday, the BBC opened the first of the new BBC One HD regional channels on satellite 28.2E (Astra). Luckily for me, the first HD regional channel was the South (although I'm really SouthEast).

1_0_19_4B4_7E8_2_11A0000_0_0_0_20230108232056.jpg

[thecaretaker]

Dates have been confirmed as...

Region ----------------------- Sky satellite -------- Freesat

Channel Islands --------------14/02/2023 ---------13/02/2023
East ---------------------------31/01/2023 ----------30/01/2023
East Midlands ----------------31/01/2023 ----------30/01/2023
East Yorkshire and Lincs--- 07/02/2023 ----------06/02/2023
London -----------------------14/02/2023 ----------13/02/2023
North East & Cumbria -----21/02/2023 ----------20/02/2023
North West (incl. IoM) -----21/02/2023 ----------20/02/2023
Northern Ireland ------------24/01/2023 ----------23/01/2023
Scotland ---------------------21/02/2023 ----------20/02/2023
South -------------------------24/01/2023 ----------23/01/2023
South East -------------------23/02/2023 ----------22/02/2023
South West ------------------14/02/2023 ----------13/02/2023
Wales -------------------------07/02/2023 ---------06/02/2023
West --------------------------14/02/2023 ---------13/02/2023
West Midlands ---------------06/02/2023 ---------07/02/2023
Yorkshire ---------------------21/02/2023 ---------20/02/2023

[magpie]

I only have to wait about 3 weeks or so then, looking forward to it

[thecaretaker]

I only have to wait about 3 weeks or so then, looking forward to it

Yes. Unfortunately, my area in the South East is last on the list 23 Feb

[thecaretaker]

BBC RB1 will launch in HD on 13th February (Freesat), 14th February (Sky)
BBC Parliament will launch in HD on 20th February (Freesat), 21st February (Sky).

BBC Alba has already launched in HD

[Eddy]

BBC RB1 will launch in HD on 13th February (Freesat), 14th February (Sky)
BBC Parliament will launch in HD on 20th February (Freesat), 21st February (Sky).

BBC Alba has already launched in HD

Are these date the same for Freeview?

[thecaretaker]

Are these date the same for Freeview?

No unfortunately. There is a problem with Freeview in as much as the mobile phone companies want to use the bandwidth the government gave to them leaving very little space for HD channels. I understand they will be having a reshuffle and some SD channels will have to go (or have already gone), but alas not all BBC channels will turn HD.

Freeview will not be getting HD versions of BBC Parliament, nor BBC Alba HD in Scotland. There isn’t sufficient bandwidth allocated to the BBC to do this at present. In June 2022, BBC News HD was withdrawn for the same reason.

The broadcasting industry is showing no sign of hurrying any switch from from DVB-T to the newer DVB-T2 standard or from SD to an all HD environment, meaning Freeview is technologically no longer a world-beating service. The vast majority of TVs and set-top-boxes sold in the last decade would be compatible with such a move.

https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/freeview-coming-up-in-2023

In fact, if the mobile phone companies get their way and further bandwidth is taken, there is a risk that Freeview could be wound down.

I've read that the BBC would favour getting rid of all the land based transmitters (which must cost a fortune to maintain) and switch to a new dedicated streaming service. It's a sad day if that happens. I also read that Emily Moor transmitter (the tallest free-standing structure in the UK) had a fire in 2021. They had to spend many millions to build a new transmitter with a life expectancy of 50 years. What a waste it would be if they pulled the plug on Freeview services now. DR might know more about Emily Moor as it is his neck of the woods.

Emley-Moor-transmitter-temporary-mast-text-and-border-20-May-18-600H-L5.jpg

I know, I'm a sad git https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emley_Moo ... ng_station

[Nail]

I'm ditching the tv licence on the next renewal. Never watch the Beeb anymore so why pay?

[Vera]

I'm ditching the tv licence on the next renewal. Never watch the Beeb anymore so why pay?

Prepare for a rough ride, be sure to have no ability to receive any broadcast TV and cancel your subscription to BBC i Player (if you have one)
Be sure to know your legal rights and expect a knock on the door from TV licencing with a court order to enter your property to check your TVs.