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Press Releases
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú receives approval for HD channel from Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Trust
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The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's proposals for a mixed-genre high definition television
channel, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú HD, were approved today by the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Trust following a Public
Value Test.
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Mark Thompson, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Director-General, said: "We are delighted that the
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Trust has approved the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Executive's high definition television
proposals, allowing us to launch the UK's first free-to-air, mixed-genre
public service HDTV channel.
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"The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú has pioneered high definition
broadcasting in the UK, setting industry standards and defining the HD
viewing experience for audiences.
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"The Trust concluded that such a
channel would create significant public value and benefit licence fee
payers."
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Jana Bennett, Director of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Vision, said: "Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú HD will be available on
cable, satellite and – in due course – on digital terrestrial and the
internet.
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"It will showcase a rich mix of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's programmes from
across its channel portfolio in true, native, high definition.
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"HD is
the next generation of television, offering the richest, most intense
viewing experience imaginable.
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"Audiences can look forward to the likes
of Earth – Power Of The Planet, Cranford, Torchwood, Hammonds Heroes,
Diary Of Anne Frank, Around The World In 80 Gardens and Live At The
Apollo in extraordinary sound and vision.
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"Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú HD will embody the range,
variety and ambition of our public service broadcasting, which is what
audiences value."
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Seetha Kumar, Head of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú HD, said: "The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is recognised as setting the
benchmark for quality and the HD trials have had a terrific response
from audiences who appreciate this quality.
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"We're looking forward to
working with an even wider network of programme makers and industry
partners to raise awareness of the benefits of HD to audiences."
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The approval of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's HD channel follows the Trust's decision in
April this year to approve Freesat, a joint venture between the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú and
ITV which will provide a free standard and high definition-enabled
digital satellite platform, with launch anticipated for spring 2008.
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Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú
HD will be part of the channel line-up.
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The launch of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's new HD channel on Digital Terrestrial Television (including Freeview) is subject to a review by the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Trust in 2008
when there should be greater clarity on HD broadcast standards and
spectrum capacity available for the channel.
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