450 Londoners sought for HD trial as ITV joins the BBC

The UK’s public service broadcasters are seeking 450 volunteers in London to take part in a six-month trial of high-definition television broadcast via the digital terrestrial platform. The BBC and ITV will air World Cup football matches during the trial while Channel 4 and Five will broadcast high-definition versions of broadcast programmes. The trial uses local frequencies made available by a development licence from media regulator Ofcom. Beyond the trial, capacity for HD broadcasts on the digital terrestrial platform will be limited until regions start the switch to digital-only television under the Government’s 2008-2012 timetable.

Liberated spectrum could be used for HD services, though policymakers have yet to decide the process by which it might be allocated, and how much capacity will be given to the digital terrestrial platform.

“This trial will allow us to evaluate the technology and give us valuable insight into viewer attitudes to HD, helping to show the possibilities for HD broadcasts over DTT post-switchover,” said Simon Fell, ITV’s controller of emerging technologies.
Source: DTG website
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