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A high-definition simulcast of BBC Two will start transmission on Tuesday 26 March at 6am.
BBC Two HD will replace the current BBC HD channel, which broadcasts high-definition shows from across the BBC, as part of the Delivering Quality First plans.
BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said the new channel would “showcase more of our programmes at their very best – helping to highlight our commitment to high quality, engaging and ambitious programmes on BBC Two”.
Programmes such as Paul Hollywood – Bread, Science Britannica and upcoming drama The Fall will now be available in high-definition for the first time.
BBC Two HD will be free on all digital television platforms offering HD channels including: Sky HD (169); Freeview HD/YouView (102); Virgin Media (187); Freesat HD (109); and BT Vision (852).
BBC HD was the UK’s first free-to-air high definition channel when it started airing in December 2007.
BBC One HD launched in November 2010 with variants for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales starting in the last six months.
This post originated from BBC’s Ariel site.
February 19th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
What happens to he HD programming from BBC3 and 4?
KeithQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
At this time, nothing it would seem. It means you’ll lose access to any HD programmes from BBC Three and Four until the BBC sort themselves out.
adminQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Thanks Admin for a quick response. Do you have any idea of what they need to do to sort this one out?
KeithQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
As a simulcast, the only thing I can think of is that the BBC would need a BBC Three HD and BBC Four HD channel, but they have previous said there is no funding for such channels at this time. I guess iPlayer might still have them in HD though.
adminQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
That’s excellent news even though this was promised quite a long time ago. Now all we need to do is to persuade Freesat to group the main HD channels together in the EPG like they do with Freeview. I’m sure that stadard definition local news material could be made available via a red button service to allow this.
Lawrence pearceQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
That’s a shame. I’ve been hoping that they would drop the idea. Most of what I watch on BBC HD is from BBC4, not BBC2
Paul OldroydQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
As I have posted several times before, the BBC have plenty of money. It is just a question of priorities.It would be interesting to know exactly how much it would cost to transmit BBC3/4/News in HD.
Keith CobbyQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
There are three big questions here.
1. What happens to HD programming from BBC3 and BBC4? (as already mentioned)
2. The press-release mentions a “simulcast network version of the BBC2 schedule” – so what exactly is happening to the local programming on BBC2? I always assumed it would be moved to BBC1, now that BBC1 HD is regionalised (mostly), But the above wording to me sounds like BBC2 HD will be a generic network version while BBC2 SD remains regionalised, much like BBC1 SD/HD were initially.
3. What are they going to do with 3D simulcasts?
ChrisQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
PS. The press release I referred to is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/bbc-two-hd.html
ChrisQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Here’s my thoughts together with answers to some of your questions:
1. – I think we’ll loose this until extra DTT capacity comes along to launch them, most likely early next year.
2. – As part of DQF, the beeb have already said they plan to remove opts from BBC Two and make it a single national service. In the meantime, the HD service will be a full simulcast of BBC Two England.
3. – I reckon that as nobody has taken the fifth DTT HD slot (now advertised three times), then the BBC may decide to use it to make the Red Button video stream HD on all platforms. 3D content in the future could be made available via the Red Button for viewers with HD equipment.
The beeb have been very cagey about this whole ‘closing BBC HD’ issue, I do think there’ll be an announcement of what they’ll do with the fifth HD stream for DTT shortly rather than just nothing if C5 won’t take it. Obviously this all relates to DTT, DSAT has plenty of bandwidth to launch all BBC services in HD tomorrow but they won’t do it though if it’s not available across all platforms, the good old ‘platform neutral’ policy!
NeilQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
I know it won’t happen, but I would have much preferred them to have kept BBC HD for showing programmes from BBC3&4 _and_ also introduced a BBC2 HD simultaneous broadcast channel.
Does anyone else, at times, feel as though the BBC is being slowly dismantled?
Keith (original)Quote
February 19th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
Shame on you BBC, what a disaster your HD service is. You found space for nations variants of BBC1 HD which hardly anyone wants then discontinue all HD broadcasts for BBC3 & BBC4. As always YOU alone know best & to hell with what we the viewers want to see – the BBC Trust is a farce. Why do you insist on hobbling your HD service to satellite in the name of the awful platform neutrality? The viewers pay for the license so why do you NEVER listen to us?
strangequarksQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 7:01 pm
I was a little annoyed at the press release that listed $ky Freeview, Youview and Virgin before mentioning Freesat. Freeview and Freesat should have got top billing from a BBC press release – or am I being pedantic!?
barrieQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
They have to remain impartial, which usually means they end up mentioned last!
adminQuote
February 19th, 2013 at 7:16 pm
@14 – then it would be best to list them in alphabetical order, perhaps.
Keith (original)Quote
February 19th, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Well, we knew this was coming – but this announcement alone makes no sense.
As mentioned above, the expenditure on the new regional 1HD channels (for just a few hours of regional news/weather per week) is hugley extravagant if the BBC now can’t continue to broadcast their HD content for BBC3, BBC4 and/or any showcase events.
Perhaps the answer lies either with the remaining DTT HD slot (on air for fewer hours per day than BBC HD currently broadcasts) or with some form of on demand service such as The Space.
With regard to the iPlayer, I suspect that there is a regulation which prevents them streaming HD content via this unless it has been recently broadcast. (You only have to look at the number of BBC3 repeats of HD material which is only ever available in SD on the iPlayer)
Brian DamageQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 1:02 am
@14 continued… Actually, I think the services should always be ordered free first, then subscription in alphabetical order.
Keith (original)Quote
February 20th, 2013 at 1:14 am
they should scrap bbc4 (which i love & signed the petition to save) move all its programmes n guys over to bbc2 and keep comedy and kids continuing on bbc3
stingy alQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 10:59 am
I like to think this is an “intermediate” and transitory situation. BBC3 HD and BBC4 HD have not been asked for or approved yet, but it makes absolute sense for it to go this way eventually. Together with all regional programming being tidied up and put into one place and all childrens programming being tidied up and put into one place. It will all take time to do so but I teink the BBC is doing a bit of housekeeping to maximise the resources it has got while still able to move forward with technology. Be patient with Auntie!
ChrisQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
So comedy fans lose out? I for one will miss comedy shows on BBC HD and therefore I am very disappointed with this decision.
You say kids tv on BBC3, isnt most, if not all, kids tv on CBBC & Cbeebies?
swjodukQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
That is true. Don’t forget that it’s not just a case of lashing up an HD Encoder and getting the services ‘on air’, the playout needs to be HD too and currently BBC2, 3 and 4′s isn’t. CBBC and CBeebies share playout with BBC Three and Four respectively so there’s work to upgrade all of this which requires investment. BBC1 is now full HD playout, I suspect BBC HD’s playout will become that of BBC2 England.
11. – I do feel the BBC are lacking in the times! What annoys me is there’s still a lot of money wasted for pointless things internally, if this was saved for other projects they’d have a bit more expenditure for things like this. Sorry beeb but I don’t buy this whole “we’re broke” excuse all the time!
NeilQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
When is the BBC One Wales HD will start.? I am confused BBC One HD has moved to Channel 972 with no Channel at the 108 slot. Is it already available?
Steven MorganQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
It has but maybe not on your freesat box, maybe do a channel search/update scan ?
Richard ParslowQuote
February 20th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
Thank you. I did an update scan and I now have BBC One Wales HD. Diolch!
Steven MorganQuote
February 21st, 2013 at 12:59 pm
sorry , i meant more of a merge of 4 into 2 and having 3 on all-day with cbbc on it during the morning like it used to be. im sure a good scheduling shuffle could save a hell of alot of cash for em
stingy alQuote
February 21st, 2013 at 4:09 pm
At least it will be on all day unlike the part time BBC HD which only starts at 4pm weekdays.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 21st, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I meant the programes start at 4pm. I know the preview nonsense is on all day
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 21st, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Remember in the consultation where they said no channels would be lost?
They LIED.
The value of BBC HD far exceeds the value of BBC2 HD. We get fewer viewing options, and less quality (BBC3&4 HD rebroadcasts).
TerryQuote
February 21st, 2013 at 9:13 pm
At least we’ll be able to see 30 mins of BBC News in HD weekdays 1100 – 1130 once it goes live from New Broadcasting House as BBC2 simulcasts 30 mins of BBC News weekday mornings.
NeilQuote
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:15 pm
30 mins of doom and gloom in HD. I can’t wait.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Off topic but did you see Walking Wounded a return to the front line on C4. Best factual TV i’ve seen all year.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:32 pm
No I didn’t see it. I’m too busy watching RT HD!
Keith CobbyQuote
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Might have been asleep but how long has active tv been on freesat just found it today channel no 408
MartinQuote
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:50 pm
Since the 14th January
http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/update-scan-140113/
adminQuote
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Can anyone think of any HD programming on BBCs 3 or 4 that either hasn’t already been on 1 or 2, or is shown on 1 or 2 as a repeat?
Sensible Paul.Quote
February 22nd, 2013 at 11:19 pm
They do show some good documentaries on RT, seen some good ones over the last couple of weeks, they are all in native HD too which is a bonus.
NeilQuote
February 23rd, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Just to be clear. The four SD versions of BBC2 will continue until at least 2015. Then there’ll be a decision on whether to do HD versions, drop the variations or continue as before.
Andy BellQuote
February 23rd, 2013 at 9:46 pm
I thought it was on the cards the ‘nation’ variants of BBC2 were to close? They should put this ‘nation’ programming on BBC1 instead.
NeilQuote
February 23rd, 2013 at 10:52 pm
All of the Scandi-dramas, like Borgen, Forbrydelsen, The Bridge … or other European stuff like Spiral …
TerryQuote
February 24th, 2013 at 1:43 am
Only Connect! great show currently on BBC HD and BBC4.
RichQuote
February 24th, 2013 at 10:32 am
Spiral is only shown in SD. Still a great program!
Being Human is a BBC3 program which is HD. I don’t recall that being repeated on BBC1 or 2.
Kevin Ver1Quote
February 24th, 2013 at 11:36 am
Newsnight Scotland on BBC1 Scotland. That wouldn’t work.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 24th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
I honestly didn’t know there was a Scottish variant of Newsnight. Does Wales and NI have one too or just unique to Scotland?
NeilQuote
February 24th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
There are plenty of programmes on BBC2 in the nations which could not easily go on 1 – minority sports like shinty, arts documentaries, parliamentary and party conference coverage. If opts on 2 were scrapped it would cause big problems. That’s why it’ll be reviewed in 2015.
Andy BellQuote
February 24th, 2013 at 11:41 pm
2015 – just in time for a potential new government who might be in a position to throw the BBC some more dosh.
NeilQuote
February 25th, 2013 at 9:11 am
Just Scotland Neil. Normal Newsnight till 11.00 then cuts away for the duration.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 25th, 2013 at 11:00 am
Interesting, so a 20min opt-out for Scottish issues. I never knew they did that as part of Newsnight but makes sense I guess.
NeilQuote
February 25th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Regarding a separate issue will someone at join free sat please inform the Daily Mail to update their Saturday weekly TV.guide as it still insists that 5 USA and 5star and PICK TV are on freeview only Thanking you
Bernard DanbyQuote
February 25th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
ESPN is selling its channels to BT Group. That’s one in the eye for Sly.
Richard CrichtonQuote
February 25th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Definitely, about time they had some serious competition and it will come in the form of BT. Anything that dents Sky’s funding is in my opinion a good move.
NeilQuote
February 26th, 2013 at 4:37 am
@40. Sadly, the last series of Only Connect was BBC4 (thus SD) only. All previous series had been simulcast on BBC HD but not that one – and no time-shifted version (that I could find). Shame because it looked stunning in HD.
Keith (original)Quote
February 26th, 2013 at 9:40 am
We might be getting an update scan today – possibly the addition of Showcase 2, lets wait and see.
NeilQuote
February 26th, 2013 at 5:41 pm
If Channel 5 doe’s not take up the spare HD slot then allow the BBC to launch an upgraded version of BBC HD. Its main source of programes would come from BBC 3 +BBC 4, plus the odd series from abroad.
Can anyone confirm if there are any spare multiflex in FREEVIEW..
alexanderQuote
February 26th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Apparently the Review Show, that used to come on after Newsnight on a Friday is moving over to BBC Four only. So there’s another programme that won’t get an HD broadcast.
TerryQuote
February 28th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
With ESPN selling their channels to BT GROUP, and if the BBC launche’s an upgraded version of BBC HD. The new channel would carry HD programes from BBC3, BBC4, ESPN(BT GROUP) plus any other productions.
alexanderQuote
February 28th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
New fta service for anyone interested in these things – Sky News Arabia. Transmitting in Arabic, but its got plenty of bandwidth and its a decent picture.
10876V 22000 5/6 for anyone who wants a look.
RoscoQuote
February 28th, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Hasn’t the BBC got an arabic news channel for the middle east?
alexanderQuote
February 28th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Yup:
http://en.kingofsat.net/find.php?question=bbc+arabic&Submit=Zap
RoscoQuote
February 28th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Thanks for corfirming the service exits.
alexanderQuote
February 28th, 2013 at 9:17 pm
Although it’s branded as ‘Sky News Arabia’ it’s actually only 50% joint owned by them so not fully controlled by the Murdoch elite! Interesting it’s FTA too although unless you speak fluent Arabic you won’t understand it!
NeilQuote
March 1st, 2013 at 9:19 am
Can’t see the need for comedy in HD the jokes are just as funny in SD/HD and on radio, the same goes for the news just as miserable. jolly, informative on SD/HD and the radio. Save HD for what it is best for i.e. Nature Programing, Drama and Sport. Remember HD is free on Freesat so be glad of that and stop moaning please. I do though notice it’s the usual suspects that do all the moaning???????????
Soldierboy001Quote
March 1st, 2013 at 10:41 am
Moan still no Demand 5 and 4OD on Freetime.
Richard CrichtonQuote
March 1st, 2013 at 11:27 am
It seems to be taking a long time to sort, not doing the freetime branding much good with these delays.
NeilQuote
March 1st, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Richard I asked a question on here when Freetime was launched, it was based on Demand 5 not allowing certain programes to be seen after their broadcast time and would this apply to Freetime as this would negate the advantage to me if I missed a certain program that was prevented to be aired on Demand 5 being also not shown on Freetime. Do you have an answer to this?
Soldierboy001Quote
March 1st, 2013 at 8:49 pm
I live in Spain and have just bought a second freesat box, however it will not except
my uk post code is there any way round this problem, the first box works fine.
I await your comment.
Godfrey EdwardsQuote
March 2nd, 2013 at 8:23 am
Check to see if you are putting the post code in correctly, some applicationd need a gap in the post code some do not. I have a friend who seems to be having the same problem and I will see later this week end so will be interested in any follow up to this. Problem is a lot of people on this site resent us using Freesat!!!!!!!!!
Soldierboy001Quote
March 2nd, 2013 at 9:11 am
Sugar leaves YouView after bust up with Desmond. Good for Freesat?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/9903537/Lord-Sugar-out-at-YouView-after-bust-up-with-Richard-Desmond.html
Richard CrichtonQuote
March 2nd, 2013 at 9:18 am
…wish we didn’t!!!
adminQuote
March 2nd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Wow… Mr Desmond isn’t to be messed with! if only he’d stand up to Rupert in the way he stood up to Alan Sugar… maybe he wants to one day buy The Sun from NI once Rupert finally retires.
NeilQuote
March 3rd, 2013 at 10:56 am
I wonder if there is a connection between the (so far) non appearance of 4OD and Demand 5 on Freetime and the fact that both TV companies are YouView stakeholders while they have no stake in Freesat.
Richard CrichtonQuote
March 3rd, 2013 at 2:39 pm
It’s an interesting one but as PSB’s then they have a moral obligation to make their on-demand services across all platforms in Ofcom’s eyes from a long-term perspective. Once all platforms have on-demand as standard add-on then I guess Ofcom would be asking questions of C4 and C5 as to why they aren’t on Freesat, especially when enables these services for the first time.
I wonder if we’ll see them make an appearance by the end of this Month perhaps?
NeilQuote
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Doe’s this mean that UKTV will have to move onto FREESAT due to the BBC owning 50% of the package?
alexanderQuote
March 3rd, 2013 at 7:44 pm
The thing with UKTV is they don’t have PSB status in Ofcom’s eyes. Likewise the sister channels of ITV, C4 and C5 don’t either. It’ only all BBC services plus ITV, C4 and C5 (in SD) that come under this category.
NeilQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Looks like the freesat awards entries for 2013 are open again admin:
http://www.freesat.co.uk/awards
NeilQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Pity we cannot vote for UKTV channels!
alexanderQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Yep, received the information this morning but don’t think I’ll promote this year, as it doesn’t allow customers to vote, just allows broadcasters to enter for the shortlist. I’ll post up when customers are able to vote for the specific categories. I find the posts that don’t allow anyone to vote just frustrate!
adminQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
I see on dig spy that someone ITK says Travel Channel is coming to Freesat this month. Have you heard anything Admin?
barrieQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Just read that, lets wait and see if it’s true! I have a sneaky feeling FS have left EPG slots 405 and 406 vacant for Travel Channel when they did their recent reshuffle. 402 was also left vacant and, as I suspected, we know will soon be occupied by Showcase 2.
NeilQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
I’m waiting for a response from freesat as I don’t know who the member on digitalspy is to confirm if they are a reliable source or not.
adminQuote
March 4th, 2013 at 11:14 pm
They may deny knowledge until the official press release but will be interesting. This is another of my watched ‘non freesat’ channels so will be great to finally have it on-board.
NeilQuote
March 6th, 2013 at 9:42 am
hi we live in Malta and use free sat can you please tell me why i keep having signal break up when its windy or spitting with rain, also why i cannot recieve any channel to do with channel 5.
thank you
mikeQuote
March 6th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Hi Mike ,
It could be to do with frequency and satellite beam changes . I’m sure not so long ago a lot of the frequencies changed over to tighter beams , basically so it would be harder for people outside the uk to pick up content. This would explain why your signal keeps cutting out. I think a bigger dish will be needed to sort your problem out. More tecky guys will no doubt tell you more.
Regards
Tony
TonyQuote
March 6th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Because you live outside the UK footprint contour of the satellites which transmit the service. Channel 5 is now on Astra 2F with a super-tight UK spotbeam, currently the BBC, ITV and C4 are still on Astra 1N which has a slightly wider footprint, this will change though at the end of the summer when Astra 2E takes over and if you can’t get C5 now then you’ll loose all the others too.
NeilQuote
March 22nd, 2013 at 3:11 pm
What he said, there are some wonderful HD programming from BBC3 and BBC4 and to lose this is a disgrace
Nick ReedeQuote