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Press Releases
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ receives approval for HD channel from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust
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The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's proposals for a mixed-genre high definition television
channel, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ HD, were approved today by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust following a Public
Value Test.
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Mark Thompson, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director-General, said: "We are delighted that the
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust has approved the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Vision, said: "³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ'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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"³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ HD, said: "The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's HD channel follows the Trust's decision in
April this year to approve Freesat, a joint venture between the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
HD will be part of the channel line-up.
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The launch of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's new HD channel on Digital Terrestrial Television (including Freeview) is subject to a review by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Trust in 2008
when there should be greater clarity on HD broadcast standards and
spectrum capacity available for the channel.
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