HDTV

Latest News

Sky News to launch in high def
New HD channel due 2010 11 June 2009 8:54 GMT
Sky News has announced it is to "break new ground" in television news with the launch of a new channel offering coverage in high definition.

The launch of Sky News HD is due for spring 2010 after the broadcaster upgrades its studios and production facilities.
BBC reveals summer high def line-up
What are you going to be watching in glorious HD this year? 4 June 2009 17:10 GMT
The BBC's HD channel has announced what it says is a summer "packed with sport and music".

The Beeb's high definition summer starts next week with the tennis tourno that is Queens and goes through to the World Athletics Championship in August, taking in a little...
Tiscali launches new widescreen hi-def EPG
Broadband supplier pumps up guide 2 June 2009 14:54 GMT
Tiscali has announced that it will be rolling out a new electronic programme guide, or EPG, on 10 June. The company promises benefits in speed and usability.

The new software is designed specially for widescreen, high definition televisions, meaning that users...
JVC builds an 8K projector
Ultra-high-definition viewing at massive resolution 13 May 2009 18:12 GMT
JVC has put together something that could be considered rather ridiculous. An 8K projector - the D-ILA 3 (RGB). It runs at a resolution of 8192 x 4320, while the highest resolution that most consumers have access to - 1080p - is just 1440 pixels wide.

8K content...
VIDEO: Sneak preview of Beeb's next high-def nature series
Wanna see a big wave surfer in a 12-foot monster barrel wave in super slow-mo? Yeah, us too... 7 May 2009 17:09 GMT
A teaser clip for the forthcoming "South Pacific" BBC series has been released, and even on YouTube's video player, looks pretty sweet.

Press play now to see the HD super slow motion video of big wave surfer Dylan Longbottom in a 12-foot monster barrel - apparently...
Freesat celebrates first birthday
Nears 400,000 sales mark 6 May 2009 12:32 GMT
Freesat, the UK's subscription-free digital satellite TV service, celebrates its first birthday with the news that it's on track to hit the 400,000 sales mark after its first year.

With up to 70 hours of peak time HD programming shown on Freesat every week,...
Sky doubles high def customer numbers
In a year 30 April 2009 9:20 GMT
Sky is trumpeting its own success with the news that in the past year it has more than doubled the number of homes receiving its high definition TV service.

There are now over a million Sky customers watching HD after "record sales" in the first 3 months of...
Virgin Media announces Dexter season 3 on demand
With the gruesome goriness in high-def for V+ HD customers 22 April 2009 17:00 GMT
Virgin Media customers will be able to get a fix of their favourite blood-spatter-analyst-turned-serial-killer whenever they want, as the latest series of Dexter launches on Virgin Media TV on demand this week.

All Virgin Media TV Choice customers will be able...
Amazon undercuts iTunes with high def movie rentals
New service announced Stateside 22 April 2009 10:57 GMT
In the States, Amazon.com has gone a step further in rivaling Apple's iTunes offering with the news that the company is now offering rentals of films and TV shows in high definition from Amazon Video On Demand.

Customers can select from more than 500 HD TV...
BBC explains DRM of high definition broadcasts
New Blu-ray recorders prompt copy protection change 17 April 2009 14:31 GMT
Following the UK launch of Panasonic's Freesat Blu-ray recorders, the BBC has announced changes to the DRM of its HDTV broadcast that allows a user to make one personal copy of HD content to a Blu-ray disc.

Owners of the Panasonic set-top boxes will be able...
BBC iPlayer goes high def
For Windows, Mac and Linux users 16 April 2009 13:27 GMT
Following the news we brought you that this would be coming soon, the BBC's iPlayer service is now offering programmes in high definition.

In a move that will have the UK's ISPs cowering, the iPlayer will offer high definition streaming as well as downloads...
HDTV awareness now at 99%
We all know about it, but are we buying? 13 April 2009 14:00 GMT
HDTV has finally made it into the mind set of the general public with a whopping 99% of consumers aware of High Definition TV.

However before the likes of Sony and Samsung crack open the champagne, the survey found that only one in ten is looking to buy a new...
VIDEO: Doctor Who goes HD
Easter special to be broadcast on BBC HD 10 April 2009 10:00 GMT
Doctor Who will be making his high definition debut this Easter with the special episode "Planet of the Dead".

Hit play now to see the trailer and tune in to BBC HD at 6:45pm on Saturday 11 April to see the whole thing in glorious HD.
Sky's new EPG rollout continues
Users get video demo on Anytime 1 April 2009 7:22 GMT
Sky has announced that it will continue its phased rollout of its new electronic programming guide (EPG) this week following successful results with the first batch of Sky boxes at the beginning of March.

The new Sky+HD Guide, that adds a number of features...
BBC HD broadcasts increase to 9 hours a day
Full service reached 17 March 2009 14:49 GMT
The BBC has announced that its high definition broadcasts have been increased up to 9 hours a day.

The rise was scheduled for 2009, and increases from the 6.20pm to midnight that was previously broadcast.

"For the first time today outside of a...
iPlayer to get HD channel
High-def-catch-up-on-demand 9 March 2009 17:06 GMT
The BBC is due to unveil a dedicated high definition channel for its iPlayer on-demand video service, it's been revealed.

Although not an official announcement just yet, the news comes from reputable sources via Twitter.

Jana Bennett, director...
Sky starts rollout of new Sky+HD Guide
EPG gets a major update 9 March 2009 11:25 GMT
Sky has announced it is to begin the phased launch of its new TV guide for Sky+HD customers.

The new Sky+HD Guide is described as an "evolution" of Sky's electronic programme guide and claims to make it even easier for HD customers to find, watch and record...
Sky+HD screens Titanic in a London swimming pool
Complete with icebergs 27 February 2009 16:47 GMT
Sky+HD has carried out what must be the most bonkers screening of Titanic, by showing the Oscar-winning weepie in a London swimming pool.

A stunt to promote the "biggest ever season" of Oscar-winning films on Sky Movies Drama HD, a London pool was transformed...
Sky to replace 90,000 HD boxes
Manufacturing fault affects one in ten 17 February 2009 11:31 GMT
Sky has confirmed that tens of thousands of its customers will need to have their HD boxes replaced due to a manufacturing fault.

The fault affects around one in ten boxes, and will mean up to 90,000 Sky+ HD boxes will have to be binned.

A Sky spokesman...
Sky claims HD shows can help depression
Subscription to satellite services is miracle cure for "downturn depression" 9 February 2009 14:05 GMT
Sky claims that watching high definition television programmes can help improve the psychological well being of the viewer.

The astounding claim is being attributed to research conducted by Sky+HD and "renowned" psychologist and agony aunt Donna Dawson who you...
UK iTunes store adds HD content
Including "Planet Earth" 6 February 2009 12:41 GMT
As well as Lost, which we brought you news of last week, Apple's iTunes in the UK has seen a whole host of new high definition video content added to the store.

US dramas feature heavily with Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, House, Desperate Housewives, Brothers...
6 Nations rugby free in HD with Freesat
All home matches to be broadcast 30 January 2009 12:28 GMT
Freesat is reminding rugby fans that coverage of the 6 Nations tournament home matches will be broadcast "in glorious HD" and for free on the BBC's HD channel via Freesat, the free-to-air satellite TV service.

Kicking off on Saturday 7 February, with England...
Sky+HD box slashed to £49
High-def TV is now "accessible for everyone" 28 January 2009 9:57 GMT
Sky has announced plans to make high definition TV "accessible for everyone" as the Sky+HD box is now available for £49 with free set-up.

Sky says that HD sales in the last quarter of 2008 were 188,000, double that of the previous 3 months bringing the number...
Series 5 of Lost available now in HD via iTunes
Complete with smaller file for iPod-ready viewing 27 January 2009 16:32 GMT
Following the start of its TV airing over the weekend, the first episode of season five of TV show Lost is now the first TV programming available in HD on the iTunes Store in the UK.

An HD episode of the show is priced at £2.49 and comes complete with an iPod-ready...
Freesat announces Bloomberg and Clubland TV
As well as time-delayed wedding channel 27 January 2009 13:29 GMT
Freesat, the UK's free-to-air digital satellite TV broadcasting has announced the launch of new stations to its service.

Bloomberg Television a financial news and information station is to launch on channel 208.

It provides news and commentary...