Ofcom confirms more HD love for Freeview

Fifth slot opened up

Ofcom confirms more HD love for Freeview

5 September 2011 11:17 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

Ofcom has invited applications from commercial public service broadcasters for this fifth HD slot on Freeview.

The move opens the door for Channel 5 to make the Freeview HD plunge, 18 months or so after it ballsed up its last attempt by not providing a launch date or programming schedule to the media regulator. It had been granted an official license way back in 2009, which ended up being given to the BBC for a second HD channel.

"The closing date for applications is 17 October 2011," read an Ofcom statement. "Applications will be judged against a number of key criteria. This will include an assessment of how the new capacity will contribute to enhancing the range and diversity of high quality television services available on DTT."

Huge diversity it says? Then surely it has to be ITV2 HD then. There's little more as diverse than the spectrum of orange featured on the skin of the cast of The Only Way is Essex.

Full tags

Ofcom, HD, HDTV, Freeview, Channel 5, Home Cinema, five hd