Loading ...ITV HD schedule static page now available here
It seems that no matter where you look, its impossible to find a schedule of programmes due to be shown on ITV HD. ITV’s own TV guide is useless, not even showing Harley Street as in HD, which is odd considering its their first weekly drama and they made such a big deal of it when it first broadcast.
What we’ve decided to do is post below the HD programmes we know are scheduled to be available (in the coming weeks), and was hoping with the participation of our readers we’d be able to get as complete a list as possible, so if you are aware of any more, please post a comment and we’ll update this post…then we’ll consider building a static page around it.
ITV HD schedule static page now available here
August 13th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Many thanks for this. This will be really helpfull as I never know when a program will be in HD. I just hope that they start to show the red button before the program starts. It’s really annoying that the program starts and then when you press the red button, you miss part of the program while it changes to HD.
Steve PQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 8:01 am
ITV really need to have a guide dedicated to HD material, even if it’s a small list of programs.
Lee BQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I thought you might like to know that the Monday night series Superhuman at 9pm is also broadcasted in HD. At least it was on 11th August so I assume the rest of the series will follow suit
NigelQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Nigel – we have already included for that above?
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Tonight’s CL footy would be great in HD but there’s no sign of any HD mention for this programme in the itv.com tv guide…
eklektofonicQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Nice move admin.
However, here it comes, Freesat need to get their act together on HD (collectively). From your schedule for ITV thats a total of 4 programmes a week!!!! Or to put in another way, only 1 programme every 2 days (48 hours) is in HD. Pathetic!
About time they started getting most of their content in HD – after all they’ve been going over 6 months now so there’s really no excuse especially given the number of programmes recorded in HD. Time the regulator stepped in and started fining them if you ask me for failing to provide an adequate service.
I might even write to them myself!
AlQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Al – absolutely, its shocking to see only 4 programmes in a 7 day period. Hopefully by enough people highlighting this we can shame ITV into doing something, and giving us more! BBC must be commended for their Olympics coverage, but when that finishes we will be left with very little.
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 9:56 am
ITV have plenty of home growing programmes that they could show in HD, it’s not like they don’t show have enough soaps! Is there any reason they aren’t shown the footy in HD (last nites footy wasn’t and god only knows about tonites) or even the F1, more movies and main news bullitins. The same could be said for the Beeb, when the Olympics are finished whats next- it’ll be like there going backwards from 24 hours a day down to 5hours worth of programmes! I have to say, Wild China and Lost land of the Jaguar rocks!
Johhny S.Quote
August 13th, 2008 at 11:30 am
ITV needs to pull their finger out. Is there a contact email for the ITV HD team(if they have one)
ZubeirQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I agree entirely that ITV needs to put a lot more effort into developing their HD service. Clearly, given the current economic climate, advertising revenue is down, but can ITV really afford to be left behind?
Presumably, a reasonable proportion of ITV production must now be in HD (in order to complete globally), so we really ought to be seeing it in HD. And, of course, movies (if shot in 35mm or better) are already HD, so ITV should be acquiring these (and other bought-in product) in an HD format where possible and broadcasting them as such.
DaveiQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Why can’t ITV just put the press release on their website so WE! can see what’s coming on. What’s the point in telling the press what’s coming on but not telling the viewers?
I feel like taking my freesat receiver back for a refund because I was led to beleive there were 2 HD channels not 1 part time one and the other that doesn’t even exist as a real channel.
Peter PiperQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Well OFCOM are absolutely toothless. I contacted them and they just said “Its outside of our remit to require them to provide an adequate service”.
They’re just a joke as a regulator in my opinion. I had trouble with my broadband service and their website says, we cannot address individual complaints.
What a joke!
Anyway, seems only way forwards is to complain to the govenment about OFCOM’s inability to regulate these markets and to complain directly to ITV about lack of HD content.
ITV can be contacted here:
Duty Office
Gas Street
Birmingham
B1 2JT
Email dutyoffice@itv.com
Phone 0844 88 14150
AlQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Just emailed ITV….let’s see what they say
MJVQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
RESPONSE FROM ITV….
Thank you for your email. HD programmes are only advertised in the Radio Times at this moment in time.
I have listed all the programmes that are scheduled to be transmitted in HD format for the next 9 days below:-
Thursday 14th August: Harley Street 21:00
Saturday 16th August: Feature Film ‘The Mummy Returns’ at 16:45
Monday 18th August: Superhuman:Genius at 21:00
Thursday 21st August: Harley Street 21:00.
We are aiming to transmit most of our football coverage in HD and also available feature films and dramas. Obviously you will be prompted to press the red button for this service.
Please accept our apologies for this information not being widely available at the moment.
We have logged your comments on our daily duty log.
Once again thank you for taking the time to contact us at ITV.
Regards
ITV Duty Officer – TT
MJVQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
MJV – well done on getting a response, i’ve sent a reply to them introducing this website and asking if possible to have a weekly updated list on programmes available in HD. Lets see what they say, atleast then everyone has a webpage to go to for a complete list, without having to try and find them on the Radio Times and ITV TV Guide pages.
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
ITV is very short of money and HD is pretty low on their priorities. Freesat HD doesn’t have enough viewers to make it economically viable. As they have said they don’t have enough programming to justify an EPG slot on Sky which would give them a bigger audience. It wouldn’t surprise me if they abandoned HD until it is available on Freeview which would support thier regional structure better.
Trevor HarrisQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
ITV do seem rather half-hearted about the whole Freesat proposition. Or maybe just simply incompetent?
ChrisQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I don’t think they are half hearted about Freesat, but maybe about their HD service whilst funds are not available. The response MJV got though would suggest to me maybe a agreement with Radio Times, given the way it was worded.
Lets see what they come back with.
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
This is a bit long winded but it just shows what customers are are up against with ITV / STV and there HD service.
Neither seem to want to take the blame for the lack of HD it certain areas.
To: Duty Office
Subject: Just a quick question re HD broadcasts in Scotland
I recently had need to send the E-Mail below to Scottish Television, regarding the lack of HD programming on STV
see below
Programme/Subject: The Scorpion King
Programme Date: 02/08/2008
Programme Time: 17:45
Comments/Query: I have recently installed FREESAT, which I must is excellent. But on Saturday on STV the above programme was not available through STV in HD but upon re-tuning my box with a London postcode it was, can you possibly tell me why this happens will STV ever send an HD signal out. If I can pick up ITV London HD surely the current situation can’t be for any great technical issue.
I received this reply from them
Dear Mr Collins,
Thank you for contacting stv.
We are aware that ITV have launched an HD service on Freesat in some parts of the UK. stv has asked ITV to make an stv version of this service available in Scotland. We are keen to get this resolved as soon as possible and as soon as the stv HD service is made available in Scotland stv will be happy to broadcast it.
ITV have now replied with this
From: Duty Office [mailto:dutyoffice@itv.com]
Subject: RE: Just a quick question re HD broadcasts in Scotland
ITV’s HD service was offered to both STV and UTV and they have taken the decision not to carry the service at this time.
EddieQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Eddie – In all fairness to ITV, we reported about this some months ago, ITV HD was offered to STV and they declined. Its a matter that would really need to be taken up with STV themselves, who will tell you they are working to have ITV HD added.
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
First of all, I agree that it’s a bit shocking that ITV is only broadcasting a total of 4 programmes (5 1/4 hours) in HD over the next ten days or so. After all, what’s the point of launching an HD channel if you don’t have enough content in HD to sustain a reasonable service? Also the communication is very bad, how are people supposed to know what’s in HD and be encouraged to tune in if ITV can’t be bothered to make it easy for viewers to find out? They certainly need to get their act together in this respect.
I do think, however, that there are some misconceptions about exactly how much HD content they have available to them. Remember that HDTV production and broadcasting in the UK is still relatively new (despite the number of HDTVs there are in the UK, I think over 9 million?), and thus there is not a great deal of original UK content being produced in HD yet. For example, on Channel 4 HD (not yet available on Freesat of course) the only original productions in HD are Hollyoaks and Live from Abbey Road (which needs to be in HD for international sales, e.g. to America); the other HD content is American dramas and comedies, which have been produced in HD on the major networks for at least several years now. I suspect that ITV will commission new dramas and new series of existing dramas in HD, but for the moment they are stuck with commissioning decisions they made many months ago, before Freesat and ITV HD were launched (of course they knew they were going to launch, but it was probably easier to say “Nah, let’s continue making this in SD for the moment until we actually have an HD channel to show it on.”)
Secondly, the issue with films in HD is I think more complicated than some commenters realise. Of course, all films *can* be in HD, because there is enough inherent resolution in the 35mm film itself to be captured in HD, but that doesn’t mean that there is an HD master presently availabe and it certainly doesn’t mean that they are available to ITV in HD format right now. For example, even in America, there are quite a few films on HBO’s HD services that are not yet being shown in HD, presumambly because an HD master isn’t available or maybe their rights packages don’t include HD versions of those films yet: http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_TODAY=TODAY Also as some people have mentioned there is of course the issue of cost. I don’t have much knowledge of exactly how these things work, but I think the rights packages for films last for a certain length of time and then have to be renewed (or not). So it may be that when packages come up for renewal and there is an HD option available ITV will take it, but on the other hand if the extra costs don’t seem worth it to them (especially given the limited availability of ITV HD at the moment) then they may pass and just get the SD versions.
And I have to disagree with admin in comment 7; I think one of the encouraging things about the BBC as compared to ITV and Channel 4 is that so many of their major new series in peak-time at the moment have been produced in HD:
Bonekickers
Britain From Above
Chinese Food Made Easy
Francesco’s Mediterranean Voyage
Gardeners’ World
Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heroes
Last Choir Standing
Little Big Dreams (one-off)
Lost Land of the Jaguar
Maestro
Spooks: Code 9
Who Do You Think You Are? (starts tonight)
As well as of course The Tudors, the Proms, the Olympics and the Paralympics. I wouldn’t call that ‘very little’
AndrewMQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Rather than put in a London postcode to get ITV HD if you live in Scotland just add English ITV regions via the add non Freesat channels facility. Lux TV HD can also be added via this facility.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Just had a look on the Radio times website and they have no mention of any HD programmes been shown on ITV in the next ten days. I’m sure it wouldn’t cost a whole lot to be a small HD logo beside any programme that is been shown on ITV HD.
Tony – Rep of IrelandQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
All the comments about freesat proves the passion throughout the UK for this to work. We all want more channels, we all want more HD, much more, we want the FIVE family and CH4 HD. We want a PVR. We want boxes that are 100% reliable.
My views are these…
1) The amount of decent channels left on 28.2E to join the freesat EPG is running dry… So our focus should be on the MAIN channels.
My Goodmans HD box…has several faults – I want them fixed
2) Five is on it’s way……so they say. Not enough narrow beam for the family channels to join….bu**er….they maybe right.
3) More HD…..BBC HD should show programmes all day – even if they are repeats (good for PVR’s) and the others….maybe the ‘sell off’ of the 4 HD channels on Freeview will speed this up. If you want to bid for an HD channel on freeview – would you not want it on freesat.
4) The Eastenders set is being rebuilt for HD…..so things are happening
5) CH4 HD – that will happen once free from the SKY contract
6) ITV HD will become a channel, not a red button service – That was only to upset SKY…..but it is all about having enough material..and enough HD equipment.
7) PVR – Santa is on his way….this Xmas hopefully
9) Lastly, my guess is that 2 or 3 SKY channels will join the EPG….news, sky3, sky sports….why….to advertise what you are missing….you watch…
MJVQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
LONG LIVE FREESAT !!!!!!!
EARLY EARLY DAYS………..OH…..and the iplayer and kangaroo……
Trust me…..this will grow and grow…….
MJVQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Admin- sorry if I missed the comments some months ago….from my message earlier it may not be clear but I did contact STV and they say “We are aware that ITV have launched an HD service on Freesat in some parts of the UK. stv has asked ITV to make an stv version of this service available in Scotland. We are keen to get this resolved as soon as possible and as soon as the stv HD service is made available in Scotland stv will be happy to broadcast it.” so they are blaming ITV.
Upon contacting ITV they as you say offered HD to STV & UTV.
My point is if these two companies can’t agree upon the story as to why some regions don’t get HD how can we expect a quality service….
BBC has clearly show the way forward.
EddieQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Eddie – 100% agree with you, they are blaming each other which is very frustrating. Freesat have taken the side of ITV and are also suggesting STV said no, but who knows what it actually true!
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
This is the Duty Office at ITV’s response to my request for a weekly update:
“We have passed your comments to our Programme Planning department who assure us that the website will carry HD details as soon as possible.
Our next HD presentations will be Harley Street tomorrow at 21.00, The Mummy Returns on Saturday at 16.45 and Superhuman at 21.00 on Monday (all subject to change).
We will be in touch again if further information becomes available.”
adminQuote
August 13th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Notwithstanding that HD brodcasts are something else, great. The viewer is the customer. How many business organizations would continue to trade if they ignored the consumer desires of their customers. How many organizations do you know of that rely on their customers trying to provide their sales, marketing and advertising on their behalf. ITV in this particular venture are acting like an Arthur Daly enterprise and what they deserve is for their customers to ignore and not view them, both on terestial and satellite. Ratings count, it generates income from advertisers, the freeview customer may not have initial power but its rebuttel would be taken onboard by the the advertisers who really pull the strings and would react. I want free channels but, come on, ITV is taking the mickey out of all of us.
colinQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I really wanted to go with the freesat option, but after waiting for many months, I am very disappointed with very little HD content. All the advertising spill says BBC & ITV HD. At lease the BBC are making an effort, But ITV is I feel is a joke, Only accessed via the red button on the odd occasion they show any HD content. Also this means that when the PVR recorders come out at the end of the year you won’t be able to record ITV HD !!!!!!.
I’m sorry but tonight I have defected and signed with Sky, buying a HD Box to watch Freesat, because at lease I will get BBC HD & Channel 4 HD a 24hr HD channel, but most importantly I can record them, which will not be the case with ITV HD via the red button.
I was so keen to buy freesat when it was first announced, when it said that it can carry HD channels, but I fell ITV have torpedoed this, and I can wait no longer.
Chris LackQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Chris – I think you may possibly find you have jumped too soon. We all seem to forget Freesat has only been going a few months. Very much a fledgling service. As an early adopter with any new technology or service there will be difficulties along the way.
I think patience is needed here. The time to really judge this service is after it has been running 12 months and that point see what channels and services are available and what is in the pipeline.
Comparing the service with what Sky provides is like comparing apples with pears. Sky has had the benefit of running for many years (about 15 I should think but correct me if I am wrong). It is just unfair and unreasonable at this stage to critisise the service that Freesat is providing.
I accept the points about ITV but they have had major financial difficulties so I think we may see big changes there in the future.
Unfotunately it is symptomatic of society today they want it now and are not prepared to wait. It is the same in everyday life can’t wait too save up for somthing so have it on credit. It is seen as failure if things cannot be had or do not happen immediately.
As I have posted before I am quite happy how the service is progressing and am prepared to wait and see what else develops. For those that want to give there hard earned money to Mr Murdoch then that’s their choice and best of luck to them. For me I am enyoing my free viewing for now and the money that I have not lined Mr Murdoch’s pockets with, will this year be used on a long weekend in London and Paris.!!!
DenisQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 8:17 am
From anoother site..
Latest press listings are:
Thu 14th 9pm Harley Street
Sat 16th 4.45pm Film: The Mummy Returns
Mon 18th 9pm Superhuman: Genius
Thu 21st 9pm Harley Street
Wed 27th 8pm UEFA League: Liverpool v Standard Liege
That’s 6 days without any HD content between the 21st and 27th.
Peter PiperQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Just checked the Radio Times website, no sign of any ITV HD programs! They really need a dedicated HD website like the BBC, it’s not as i’m they would have to type much in or update often!.
Lee BQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Peter – thanks for that, have added the Liverpool match.
adminQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 10:39 am
ITV management are foolish to restrict HD resources. Having recently subscribed to Sky+ HD, I find I am watching more HD programming and stations that I wouldn’t have watched before, e.g. Movies/Discovery/Arts/Eurosport, simply because the pictures are stunning. If ITV realised this, and fully supported HD, they would have a semi-USP that would likewise drive more viewers to their channel. And with no freesat PVRs out there at present, those viewers would actually watch more advertising, which is ultimately what ITV need. At present, ITV are in danger of losing even more viewers to HD competitors.
ChrisQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Chris – I think you will find that ITV are on a very tight budget.
As regards HD programmes I agree that the pictures can be stunning, however I feel personallly that the quality of the programme content is the first priority. A poor programme is a poor programme whether it is in SD or HD. I remember when colour TV first came in we would watch anything looking at it totally stunned. As time went on the novelty wore off and we were more concerned with programme content. It will be the same with HD, the bottom line for any programme is the quality of the content.I would rather watch an evening of quality programme in SD than say an evening of dross like Big Brother in HD..
Still you pays your money and takes your chance. I hope those that have gone to Sky have a long and happy relationship with Mr Murdoch. I for one will stay with Freesat and see how things progress.
DenisQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
@Denis – I do agree with you programme content is important. But I didn’t know BB was in HD so I shall be checking that out asap [joke]. My point was that I am finding interesting and stimulating programming elsewhere that I wouldn’t have otherwise simply by flipping through the HD channels [incl. BBC HD]. As ITV don’t do HD (much) they are losing share. As a case in point, they lost me as a potential freesat viewer (and consequent advert consumer) to the much more feature-rich Sky HD.
ChrisQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
The whole point of Freesat is that it’s free. If you want to pay Sly £50 a month fine go for Sly but don’t brag about it on a Freesat board.
Richard CrichtonQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
You did better than me, I didn’t even get a reply. This is what I said:
“Lack of ITV programming in HD on Freesat.
Hi,
I wish to complain about the lack of ITV programming being transmitted in HD on the Freesat service.
The schedule for the coming week shows:
Thursday 14th August 2008
Harley Street – 9pm
Saturday 16th August 2008
The Mummy Returns – 4.45pm
Monday 18th August 2008
Superhuman: Genius – 9pm
Thursday 21st August 2008
Harley Street – 9pm
That’s only 4 HD programmes a week or an average of 1 every 2 days!!!
This is absolutely ridiculous. There are an estimated 12 million HD sets in the UK and most programming is now recorded in HD and yet you’re failing to transmit in HD despite having a HD channel.
Last night’s football was in SD, tonight’s presumably is as well according to the schedule, why?
All films are HD resolution, most soaps, sport and other programmes are now recorded in HD as the US and other foreign markets demand it so why doesn’t ITV start broadcasting a full schedule of HD programming?
If you want to know what your customers think, then this thread on joinfreesat says it all – overwhelming dissatisfaction with a lack of a full HD service and total support in favour of one: http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/itv-hd-programme-schedule#comment-2965
Time to do something about this.”
Quite reasonable I thought, but no reply.
AndrewM, unless you have inside knowledge, then I think you’ll find there’s a lot more HD content than you think.
Most films as you point out have the inherent resolution for HD and it deosn’t take a HD master to broadcast HD, it just takes someone sat at a desk to convert it from its inherent resolution to HD in an editing program. Literally a drag and drop operation if no editing is taking place. All it needs is for the broadcaster to obtain a large format digital copy, instead of an SD copy from the distributor (assuming a HD copy isn’t available anyway).
Most wildlife programming has for a while been recorded in HD even if broadcast in SD because much of it is sold overseas to markets when HD is only the only acceptable format, hence the probable reason why some of the 1st Sky HD channels were National Geographic and Discovery.
For the same reason of overseas markets, most other home grown programming is now being recorded in HD even if its been transmitted in the UK in SD (Doctor Who) being a good example simply because of overseas markets demands.
Finally, even for SD programming, its possible to upscale older programs to HD albeit with some loss of definition.
So there really is no excuse for 4 programmes a week! It should be possibly to run a channel with most programmes mirrored in true HD and with only a few upscaled or SD only.
AlQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
They must be reading this, I got a reply:
“Thank you for your email and comments which have been registered here in the ITV Duty Office and also forwarded onto senior management for their viewing.
Kind regards,
Duty Office – dc
”
AlQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Chris- Fair enough it was your right to choose to go to Sky. The point I am making that it is very early days as yet with Freesat and I am prepared to give it 12 months and see how things progress. Yes Sky do have a good choice of HD channels but then they have been around as a service provider for many years not just over 3 months like Freesat. I feel it is expecting too much from a fledlging service to have an all singing all dancing service after such a short time.
When I bought my Goodmans box I knew at the time what the situation was but I was prepared to wait and save money at the same time that I am not paying to Sky. Still as I have said already we live in a society these days where people want it now and are not prepared to wait. So I can understand why some are switching to Sky.
DenisQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Just presed the Red Button on itv on the off chance ( 1549h) and its crossed over to Itv HD And its showin Euro 2008 Highlights if anyone is interested
KevQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
@Richard Crichton: You miss my point. I like the freesat proposition – free TV is great. But it could be even better if ITV got their act together like BBC are doing with HD. If ITV roll out HD properly they thereby shore up market share and ad revenue, and, hopefully, with C4 HD and five HD the freesat proposition will become much more compelling. Add an HD PVR and the freesat proposition becomes a marvellous one rather than [yawn] ho-hum [to me, at least] as right now. I suppose we’ll know in a year’s time. By which time many viewers may even be tempted to move back from Sky to freesat.
ChrisQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Kev, tried pressing the rebd button on my Humax and no joy!
Tony – Rep of IrelandQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
@Al – First I just want to say that I certainly do agree that the amount of HD programming ITV has scheduled is absurdly low for an HD “channel”. However, it’s simply not true that “most programming is now recorded in HD” as you claim. If it were, then ITV HD would be showing HD content all the time. (Although I have to admit that I’m surprised they’re not showing all the football in HD, that seems like a no-brainer to me.)
If we are talking about true HD (i.e. content acquired/shot and post-produced in HD), then you absolutely do need to have an HD master of a film for it to be shown in true HD. It certainly is possible to upscale the content to HD resolution (as you say), that is what Channel 4 HD does most of the time, as they only have a small part of their schedule actually in HD.
I was surprised to learn that not only is Doctor Who not produced in HD at the moment, but there are no plans to move to HD production anytime soon. This post from Seetha Kumar, the former head of HDTV at the BBC explains some of the challenges with moving production to HD, including why Doctor Who is not in HD yet:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/05/bbc_hd_tv_feedback.html
Another post from a year earlier on why Doctor Who isn’t in HD yet:
http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/03/doctor-who-no-plans-to-move-to-hd-confirms-produce/
AndrewMQuote
August 14th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I stand corrected on Doctor Who.
However, from the blog, don’t let them kid you that there aren’t small HD cameras out there. The RED ONE is one that is comparable to many SD studio cameras and one that many Hollywood blockbusters have been filmed on and anyone watching the recent “Land of the Jaguar” will have noticed that the ordinary sized cameras they took into the trees were all HD, Panasonics from memory.
The Jaguar at night, was itself captured with a Sony HD consumer camera that fits in the palm of a hand, such is the quality of HD.
I think a later blog entry summed it up nicely, its more expensive to post produce in HD than SD. I’m presuming this is measured in time taken because the process is exactly the same. The only difference in the editing is the time taken to render the larger files.
I say this as someone who both shoots in HD and edits in HD in Vegas Pro 8.0.
AlQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 9:22 am
It seems to me to be the case that no one is, at this stage, expecting a vast amount of HD programming on ITV HD – but it doesn’t seem unreasonable for us to expect more than we are getting.
I would suggest that ITV needs to start ensuring that their programme acquisition from distributors is in the form of HD masters where available (for movies, HD-produced series, etc.) and that in the admittedly small number of cases where they themselves have engaged in HD production (perhaps with an overseas co-producer) that the HD master is used for UK transmission.
Moreover, I would suggest that ITV launch a dedicated HD channel as soon a practicable (even if it doesn’t have much on it apart from promotional material). Then, HD masters of some archive productions that wouldn’t get a slot on ITV1, but which are often shown in SD on other ITV channels, could get an HD airing. It is, perhaps, a little known fact that many ATV/ITC series from the ’60s and ’70 that were shot on 35mm, and are now owned by Granada Ventures, have recently undergone high quality HD restorations – to give just two examples, the HD transfer of The Prisoner was contracted out to Technicolor Services, while Space 1999 was handled by the BBC’s senior colourist, Jonathan Wood.
The point is that there is HD material out there that is available to ITV (almost) immediately. There may not be that much of it, but there is a good deal more than we’re seeing.
DaveiQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Well, to use an old saying….’my cup is half full rather than half empty’…
Just found a POSITIVE email posted on digital spy….
Dear Graham,
Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries.
As of 6th May, Channel 4, E4, More4 and Film4 have all become available
through the new joint venture between the BBC and ITV called freesat.
Neither the HD Channel 4 service or the +1?s are currently avaiable, but we
hope these will be added in the coming months.
For further information on the service and how you can get it, go to
http://www.freesat.co.uk
Regards,
Stan Quaid
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries
MJVQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
TO ADMIN,
Things have gone very quite “”"”no new news , is everyone on holiday ????
brian palmerQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 11:41 am
brian – No news I’m afriad, things have gone very quiet at Freesat. Shall we make something up?
adminQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Coming back to the original post on this thread – I downloaded “DigiGuide” & set high definintion into the search criteria.
All the HD channels pop up in your chosen colour – OK not a lot on ITV but I’m sure that will pick up towards the end of the year.
Bob WoodyQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Just wondering does anybody know how many HD channels freesat intend to have by the end of the year or in total! Does anyone know?
PedroQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
If we’re optimistic, by the end of the year in we’ll have the following on the Freesat EPG:
BBC HD with increased programming
ITV HD as a separate channel
Channel 4 HD
Luxe HD
I am not aware of any others seriously being considered.
GalvatronQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
@MJV,
Hurray, some good news at last.
I think Channel 4 HD will be much watched. Would aslo be nice if they could mirror films on Film 4 as red button HD broadcasts (HD option would be nice).
BTW I’ve just thought about something, as HD is the future and migration to HD is happening, why don’t the broadcasters put SD on the red button and transmit HD as standard when HD is available. Surely this would make more sense in transition terms and encoruage the migration to HD by signalling thats becoming the main focus of programming.
AlQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
On the subject of increased programming on BBC HD, the new head of HDTV at the BBC, Danielle Nagler said in a blog post a few days ago:
“Briantist, roryh22 and ropies all ask about the full nine-hour service and when the hours for BBC HD will be extended. My aim is to ensure that over the autumn, we gradually increase the number of hours we broadcast. I’d like us to be up to the full nine hours, day in day out, by the beginning of April, but I do need to check that that is feasible and that we have enough HD content in the pipeline to ensure that we don’t achieve a longer schedule simply by increasing repeats beyond what is acceptable. I’m already working on the plan with the HD channel team, and I’ll update you soon.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/08/bbc_hdtv_your_comments.html
So maybe up to 6/7 hours by the end of the year.
AndrewMQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Re separate channel for ITV HD.
Iwas browsing some satellite listings and http://www.flysat.com/28east.php/astra28.php lists ITV HD as a separate channel about halfway down the listings under a heading of Arqiva (whatever that is)
Can we use these settings to receive this as a separate channel ?
peterhbQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Don’t hold your breath about ITV ever giving a full HDtv channel.
ITV is dying and is walking into the night.
Tv is now so diluted that the vast sums needed for class shows can no longer
be justified due to the small audiences.
This once great service was destroyed by you know who and the sooner someone buys it (maybe one of the small independant production companies) the better.
They are already planning to get out of their public service remit.
Why don’t they just transmit Bingo 24 hrs a day and make some money.
PhillipQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I just came across this information concerning ITV’s plans for HD content in an article on DigitalSpy about ITV’s submission to run an HD service on Freeview (the bit on HD content availability should naturally apply to ITV HD on Freesat as well):
“ITV has proposed to use one slot on the reconfigured multiplex to provide a primetime simulcast of ITV1 between 6pm and 11pm each evening. The simulcast will exist as a single national service for England and Wales, with separately-branded streams for Scotland and Northern Ireland. In 2010, ITV expects that 40-50% of originally-produced content would air in native HD, increasing to 60-65% by switchover completion in 2012 and over 70% by 2014.
“The simulcast service will exploit the power of the ITV1 brand, the familiarity of the audience with the architecture of the schedule as well as the fact that ITV invests circa 90% of the ITV1 programme budget in the peak time schedule,” the broadcaster said, adding that sport and non-soap drama would provide the bulk of its HD simulcast. It suggested that in its launch year, covering 2009-10, it would simulcast 84 football matches – including the World Cup – in HD, plus drama including Marple, Doc Martin, Kingdom and Lewis.”
Full article: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a122759/itv-c4-submit-freeview-hd-plans.html
AndrewMQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Someone should tell ITV that SuperVision (SuperHD = 4x Full HD) is due to start trials in 2014. Case of Britain getting HD when its already out of date.
AlQuote
August 15th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I correct myself, 2012:
http://www.hdtv-news.co.uk/2008/03/11/bbc-and-nhk-collaborate-on-super-hi-vision-technology/
AlQuote
August 16th, 2008 at 5:58 am
SuperVision is all well a good but we are starting to get then into the realms of the clarity being better than the human eye can discern. It will obviously be of more use for the larger screens where clarity becomes more important as screen size increases.
I liken it very much to the sound of high quality audio equipment, for massive extra cost you only gain a small increase in quality and the appreciation is only realised if the listener has the hearing to match.
I am sure SuperVision will be very good but I really do not think the average household with an average sized TV will be too concerned about it for many years. Clearly the enthusiasts will disagree and say it is the next great new thing, however sometimes they need to take their “tecky hat” off and realise that there are millions of TV viewers out there that only want a good choice of quality programme with an acceptable quality of picture. So the fact that HD will be out of date in 2012 will not concern the majority of viewers unless we end up with the silly situation where you have to change all your equipment again just to watch TV.
Lets face it if all our favourite programmes by then are broadcast in HD that would be acceptable for most people.
DenisQuote
August 16th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I agree Denis that its certainly going to probably take a larger TV to notice the difference. I doubt that the average person with a 32″ is going to notice much difference and I doubt that they’d even get 35 mega pixels worth of pixels onto such a small screen considering 2 mega pixels is currently a struggle – thats a 17 fold increase in pixel count!!!!. Equallly, though many people are migrating to larger screens and as 2013 is 5 years away, how many of us will be due a new tv by then anwyay – tv’s don’t last for ever!
One other thing about increased resolution thats fueling larger screens, is that the higher the resolution, the easier a larger screen becomes to view. An SD picture on a 42″ looks soft to acceptable from 10ft but a HD picture on the same screen looks great from as little as 5 feet!
I agree there will also be debate about whether or not you can see the difference although early tests on a large screen indicated that people found it so lifelike with some test films in Japan, they were physically sick during a car chase on a test screening!!!
I’m no expert on this, so can’t comment beyond saying that provided it looks more lifelike, I’d buy it even if I couldn’t put my finger on why it looked more lifelike ie. even if I couldn’t see a discernable detail difference unless I really looked. Ultimately to cinema fans, provided it feels more lifelike it will sell. As to Joe Average, well who knows. Suffice to say that HD tv’s are selling well despite their being next to nothing to actually watch on them, and nothing at all for the terrestrial majority, this has to bode well for future developments.
That said, at the moment we should concern ourselves more with HD which is why ITV et al should pull their fingers out and get a full schedule on as soon as possible. HD is fast becomming as much of a joke as Freeview in my opinion. With Freeview, we have a service thats been outdated before its even been rolled out due to developments in HD and such a slow roll out period. HD is in danger of going the same way. Personally I still can’t see why Freeview couldn’t have given a single date for total switchover, say Jan 2008 and then put in place engineers to help those like the elderly who struggled to make the change. Instead we have a 5 year roll out thats causing arguably just as many problems and has resulted in a service thats arguably technologically been left behind by HD developments.
AlQuote
August 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Super Hi-Vision does indeed sound exciting (well, except for the nausea part) but I think the more important date in that article is 2025, which is the estimate for the beginning of full-time public broadcasts. After all, HDTV standards were agreed in the mid-90′s, and look where we are now more than 10 years later.
A more realistic progression for the near- to medium-term is to move to 1080p/50 HD broadcasting (that is, 1080p at 50 frames per second), rather than 1080i/25 or 720p/50 as it is now. This format would be compatible with all the 1080p HDTVs that are being sold today, although the Freesat and Sky digiboxes would of course need to be upgraded on the consumer end. Where possible (it’s quite expensive to do so at the moment), 1080p/50 is the EBU (European Broadcast Union)’s recommended format for HDTV production ( http://www.ebu.ch/CMSimages/en/tec_doc_t3328-2008_tcm6-59454.pdf page 15 ) and has labelled as a possible third-generation of HDTV broadcasting in a presentation given by someone from the EBU at the HD Masters 2007 conference ( http://hdmasters2007.com/pdf/Presentations/HDM2007_Wood-EBU.pdf page 5 ).
AndrewMQuote
August 16th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I forgot to mention in my last comment, the next jump in HDTV resolution (after 1080p/50) will likely not be to Super Hi-Vision (7680 x 4320) but rather to QuadHDTV or Quad Full High Definition (QFHD), which has a resolution of 3840 x 2160, or 4 times the resolution of 1080p HDTV today. Indeed, there are already prototype QuadHDTVs available: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/09/eyes-on-samsungs-82-inch-quadhd-and-52-inch-ultra-slim-lcds/
Wikipedia on Quad Full High Definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad_Full_High_Definition
AndrewMQuote
August 16th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Scratch that, Quad HD isn’t just prototypes, there’s one on sale from Westinghouse for $50,000: http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/quadhd
AndrewMQuote
August 18th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Freesat at present is a joke!! We would like HD, however to pay £150 for anHD box so full of problems, having not that many channells, and only one real hd one (BBC) what is the point. I enquired re Sky HD box. It can be bought for less than £260 (unsubsidised) have all the FTV channels plus radio and FX hd, BBChd, and C4hd. A much better option. OK I agree you would not be able to use the pvr unless you pay sky each month. But all in all a better deal.
footyQuote
August 18th, 2008 at 8:01 am
footy – for £260 instead of £120 you are only receiving C4 HD, and loosing ITV HD (for what its worth). FX HD is a subscription channel, so essentially if you are not paying for a subscription, then you are not gaining anything really, just loosing a potential £140!
adminQuote
August 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am
footy, I think most of the problems on the Alba/Humax boxes have been fixed with firmware updates, might be worth googling the infamous capacitor problem on Sky HD boxes, I’d rather a firmware update to fix a problem than a hardware problem!.
Also must be a real pain scrolling through 100′s of encrypted channels on Sky all the time!
My Bush HD box was only £108 from Argos (got 10% off for being a Southern electric customer). Bit cheaper than £260!
Lee BQuote
August 21st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Thanks for reply Admin, you have enlightened me. I have ? My Philips 23″lcd has DVI, no problem I can connect to HDMI from Freesat box with adaptor, HOWEVER sound??? At present we have Home cinema 5.1, brilliant- run via 2 phono leads from sky box to LG Home Cinema.. BUT the freesat box does not have this. only optical connection, so how can I take this to my Home Cinema kit. I have looked for an adaptor but cannot find one. Surely there must be a simple way. Thanks.
footyQuote
August 27th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Please can anyone tell me if the Lip-Sync Issue is fixed yet ?????
DeanoQuote
August 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Write to your M.P.
There must be a few million HD televisions in this country by now but very few HD programmes!
Why don’t we hear Sony, Toshiba and the rest complain?
What’s that old song by the Police – Money for nothing and no HDTV.
daveQuote
August 29th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
King Kong – Saturday 6th September.
Paul.Quote
August 30th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Admin – any chance of putting up a quick link to the ITV hd guide as yours my friend is the only one we have! Cheers
Tony – Rep of IrelandQuote
August 31st, 2008 at 7:53 am
Tony – ITV HD schedule static page now available:
http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/freesat-channels/itv-hd-schedule
We will update as much as we can, but are relying somewhat on the help of our readers to keep it up to date.
adminQuote
August 31st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Cheers Admin!!!
Tony – Rep of IrelandQuote
August 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
The What’s on TV guide has been listing the ITV HD programs for a while now
ScottQuote
September 4th, 2008 at 5:56 am
ITV HD is Hidden. This stops the SKY open TV software being able to auto detect it. Some FTA not Freesat boxes have had their channel listing and EPG updated via OTA and ITV comes up as a channel listing eg Fortec Passion and Vantage receivers.
Les NicolQuote
September 4th, 2008 at 6:08 am
It’s a pity that that the BBC doesn’t follow the same line, but my understanding is that they take a neutral line on this, but I can see the logic in ITV circumventing a major competitor getting a free run on this. Iv’e no doubt they will eventually work out a method of giving us a channel listing that that doesn’t come up on the SKY Open TV software sometime soon.
Les NicolQuote
September 8th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Unfortunately I live in Scotland and can not receive ITV HD at all.
Can anybody confirm that I will be able to receive ITV HD broadcasts if I tune my Freesat receiver to ITV London instead of STV.
Alistair SeyQuote
September 8th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Alistair – Yes, either carry out a system reset and include a English postcode. Alternatively use the non-Freesat mode to add an English ITV region, which will in turn give you the red button option.
adminQuote
October 14th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Know anything about HD ?
Ever thought of watching it on ITV ?
If so you’ll be disappointed – like me.
I’m sure I don’t have to say more – but why are there not more HD broadcasts ?
Is there a problem related to it that we don’t know about
OR
Is Rupert bribing them all ?
mickQuote
October 21st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I am quite annoyed that Freesat HD channels are restricted unless you have an HDMI connection to the TV. I have a 3 year old Panasonic Viera that was purchased prior to “HD Ready” marketing and because I can only connect my HUMAX HD Freesat box via Component (YUV) I am unable to view HD channels. This is very unfair and means I now have to buy a new HD Ready TV if I want to view HD.
I realise the need to copy protect but this is grossly unfair.
Andrew BraunQuote
October 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Andrew – Blame technology, component should never have been offered as an option, HD protection was always going to be a problem. If you bought feeling that the retailer sold you it as future proof, get back on to them and demand at the very least a discount on a HD Ready television. I know someone on the forums complained to John Lewis and was given a new television for nothing!
adminQuote
October 27th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Thanks from Holland for the great Tip.
Tonight at 10 p.m. I’l try on ITV HD.
I think that’s the same time as your 9.pm.
Thanks Again
Greetings
a3openQuote
March 7th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
i have just spent£300 on a freesat box and i find that itv have only two programmes today,saturday 7th march.what a waste of my money.however its good to see that the bbc are doing a lot more coverage.itv,get your act together…….
steven collierQuote
August 1st, 2009 at 9:10 am
ive been watching The Bill over the past couple of weeks and i have to say that i’m impressed , not only that its in HD which is great but there seems to be a difference in the way it is filmed and edited. why do we still have to use the red button, its like we are being treated as subversives.
DennisQuote
December 6th, 2010 at 10:19 am
The above comments are fine but totally out of date. It is now December 2010. I can get different BBC HD on channels 108 and 109 and ITV on 119, but where are the programmes listed? Also where is Channel 4 HD?
alshoQuote
December 6th, 2010 at 10:26 am
That’s because they were posted back in 2009. This page is no longer updated.
adminQuote
December 26th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I enjoy reading your comments, but (and there is often a’ but’ after a positive opening!) forget about this obsession regarding ITV HD. ITV HD under current control won’t really happen because they don’t have the revenue available to realise their plans.
Without mentioning any names just look at some of our top football clubs who are ‘Owned’ by people who can’t afford to invest because they need all the revenue they can generate just to service the debt that they generated.
Jayne10Quote
January 18th, 2011 at 11:30 am
Why dosent ITV HD provide 5.1 Dolby surround for their programmes and movies? would appreciate an answer.
james MaloneQuote
January 18th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Main reason being they just don’t want to, nor want to invest in programming with that audio offering; it all costs money, something ITV just don’t have!
adminQuote