Ofcom considers fast-tracking London's HD Freeview

Can't have capital-dwellers missing out on the World Cup

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22 October 2008 15:45 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Ofcom has launched a consultation to look at reassigning some spectrum frequencies to allow some high density population areas (read: London) to get the HD Freeview services more quickly than had been planned.

A response to a request from the BBC, this process might see London getting HD Freeview by 2010 instead of 2012 as was originally stated in the roll out plans.

This would mean Londoners who opt to buy a new set-top Freeview box could get to see the next football World Cup in high definition.

It seems there's no such special treatment for either the Tynes Tees or Ulster areas which are also scheduled to go HD in 2012.

Ofcom is considering fast tracking London because it is "one of the metropolitan areas identified by the BBC and one of the most congested geographic areas". The consultation will close on 19 November.