BBC to launch five new HD channels

That's interesting including the BBC's intention to end the farce we have with a red screen shown on BBC1 HD when local news is broadcast in SD. Is this the end of the distribution method 'equality' waste of resources just to keep the Freesat viewers happy?

At last, BBC4 in HD from a normal aerial. Can't come soon enough from my POV.

I can just imagine the BBC-hostile press splashing headlines like 'millions of nearly new set-top boxes to be made obsolete by BBC!' It was bad enough when the 2008 NIT update meant that boxes using the Set-Pal chip just stopped working. There was uproar in the press as boxes at least 5 years old would have to be scrapped and replaced with DVB-T compliant models that were by then available for less than £20.

I suppose the difference now is that all new TVs will accept HD video via their HDMI ports and T2 STBs are available well below £50 now. T2 tuners are now appearing in 22inch sets with a minimal different in price, and they will end up in bedrooms and kitchens in 5 years time as second and third sets.

SD with DVB-T1 is just as hungry for bandwidth as HD with T2, and more development will be directed in CODEC and mux kit for HD than SD in the future so we could see T2 muxes with 7 or 8 HD channels statmuxed together. These improvements may one day allow all DTT HD to be 1920x1080 when the HDCAM kit has been life-expired.

The BBC must feel that HD is a far better investment than the 3D gimmick.

It appears that the grant of spectrum space for these channels is subject to review at the end of 2018, when Ofcom reserves the right to reallocate the channels if seen necessary. You can read all the gory details if you wish at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/600mhz-award/statement/600_MHz_Statement.pdf - be warned, it's a long document! . Interestingly, that document also shows a definite willingness to promote the use of DVB-T2

 

Now let's say they do want to claw back this extra spectrum away from DVB. In five years time, I find it highly likely that it wouldn't be the extra HD channels (on DVB-T2) that will be given up - far more likely the ending of the equivalent amount of SD simulcasting via DVB-T - probably with channel reallocations to match. Consequently, I think it is quite likely that we may start to see "SD switch-off" in late 2018, but very unlikely to be before. By then the vast majority of Freeview tuners will be DVB-T2 capable anyway (certainly those built into TVs), and it's not like 405 line switch-off, or even analogue. So much viewing happens anyway via HDMI connected boxes.

Thanks for the link, interesting document, (I really must get out more!).

 

Things that I noticed:

 

1) The comments from (eventual) non NoITAs show how they are all sitting around waiting for access to some spectrum released by DSO. That is apart from Sky who really don't seem to want any expansion of DTT programming.

2) The all-embracing clause 2 of Schedule 3 of the licence which makes it clear that licence holders shall not be religous-based organisations. That's refreshing that we have mainstream broadcasting services based secular principles. Does read a bit like the Monty Python 'Bruce' set of rules though.

3) The 12 month window in which licencees must start services and the rapid rate of subsequent build-up, would seem to favour a large established organisation like Arquiva. This should mean that a sizeable part of the electorate will have the opportunity to view services before the next General Election.

4) Will programme providers take the lower-cost option of doubling up existing SD-only streams (which as you indicate may be sacrificed after 2018), or will they put on unique programming to encourage take-up of T2 STBs?

 

So not long to wait before some announcements then?

 

Crikey - sounds like you must have read it in more detail than I did..... :-)

 

 

I suspect they're happy enough at the moment to just let natural wastage take it's course. With pretty well any TV sold nowadays HD capable, it's difficult to see why any manufacturer wouldn't put a DVB-T2 tuner in - I suspect it's doubtful if DVB-T only tuners are even being made. So the longer it goes on, the fewer complaints would follow any decision for SD (DVB-T) turn-off, and as said before, it's not the issue analogue switch-off was anyway. At some point it has to happen. Simulcast is a waste not only of bandwidth, but energy and resources at the transmitters as well.

 

Although I've been retired for three years, I can't quite kick what was a large part of my job, picking the bones out of specs. and contracts.

 

As far as the STB issue goes, I think that any new HD channels will be filled by simulcasts of existing second tier ones, e.g. BBC3, BBC4, News etc..

So when the call for culling SD services comes, it is likely to the the SD streams of these rather than the spacewasting shopping channels. I there scope for MPEG4/T2 muxes with (say) 10 or more SD channels to soak up the dross services? Its good to see that Sky have relinquished 'Freeview' channels that they ran their subscription services on.