HD Channels

Nothing HD on the standard sky box Lark. To get HD free you will first need to be aware that only the none scrambled HD channels will be available to you. As regards box you have some choices:

1. a sky HD box bought outright or second hand from somewhere. This would be my choice as I don't care what you say the electronic programme guide EPG on these boxes is a lot better than others.

2. Buy a freesat box, there are some coming out now just for freesat access.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/

3. buy a general purpose HD satellite receiver as per europe and other scrambling systems etc.


I do number 3 with a humax hidef sat box. it pulls in bbc HD free to air. Channel 4 HD needs a viewing card at present but I believe is soon to go FTA. Such viewing cards only work officially in sky boxes.

OK Fozz I will change to a SKY HD box.


Cheers

ITV HD is only available on the Freesat platform.

Lark ,Find one of your friends who has a $ky HD box ,$ky are doing a deal if you buy recommened by a friend $ky HD box £99 ! got the leaflet through the door yesterday!....Jim

Munch that is not correct. You can get certain channels free if they are free to air like bbc HD.
others like ch4 are currently encrypted by sky and by getting a card from them for a one off charge of around 20 quid you can view ch4.

I was not aware itv was going to be freesat only and this implies they are going to have their own conditional access? yeah it checks out...
http://www.itv.com/hd/

nowt on itv I am interested in anyway and that includes the football.

yet again a load of confusion and competing systems for the punter to work out!

Gaz

ITV in HD

One has to ask - why?

Freesat is a new free to watch offering from the BBC which uses a satellite to broadcast its channels. You only need to buy your receiving equipment and satellite dish to receive all channels available through Freesat for free. Freesat initially offers just one HD channel (BBC HD), but I believe they have committed to 4 HD channels before the end of the year.

Freesat offers all the channels Freeview offers plus the HD channels as far as I know. Freeview HD seems like it may not happen. Currently there are a very few set top receivers and no Hard Disc models. Humax is meant to be offering a hard disc recorder, allegedly by the end of July.

By all means, buy a subscription to Sky HD but I really don't see why anyone does so. I have enough difficulty viewing the few programs I enjoy on just 5 channels. I dread to think what'll happen when I move over to a digital experience.

Just a little warning about BBC HD. I'm sure many of you know this, but at the moment it's stretching things to call it a proper channel. For most of the time it broadcasts a preview i.e clips of costume dramas and travel documentaries. There's only 4 hours or so each day of real programmes and even then they tend to be repeats of stuff like Mountain and Torchwood. This is the only HD channel currently available from Virgin and I don't know when it's scheduled to go fully live. On it's own, definitely not worth buying an HD box for at the moment.

quote:

Originally posted by TomK:
Just a little warning about BBC HD. I'm sure many of you know this, but at the moment it's stretching things to call it a proper channel. For most of the time it broadcasts a preview i.e clips of costume dramas and travel documentaries. There's only 4 hours or so each day of real programmes and even then they tend to be repeats of stuff like Mountain and Torchwood. This is the only HD channel currently available from Virgin and I don't know when it's scheduled to go fully live. On it's own, definitely not worth buying an HD box for at the moment.

The BBC Euro games are on HD as is Wimbledon. Depends on your viewing preferences I guess.

quote:

ITV in HD

One has to ask - why?

Apart from motorsport F1,GP2 and BTTC the only thing we watch on ITV is Dexter(now finished) predictably an American import.

Thanks for advice, SKY HD will be fitted on Thursday. Complained about bad advice given by sales staff and have been told they will fit SKY HD for £129 inc fitting!


Cheers

I don't know anyone with SKY HD, so it was going to cost £319

So not such a bad result

It is at a new address so I am struggling to get a better deal.

Cheers Karl

quote:

Originally posted by nap-ster:

quote:

Originally posted by TomK:
Just a little warning about BBC HD. I'm sure many of you know this, but at the moment it's stretching things to call it a proper channel. For most of the time it broadcasts a preview i.e clips of costume dramas and travel documentaries. There's only 4 hours or so each day of real programmes and even then they tend to be repeats of stuff like Mountain and Torchwood. This is the only HD channel currently available from Virgin and I don't know when it's scheduled to go fully live. On it's own, definitely not worth buying an HD box for at the moment.

The BBC Euro games are on HD as is Wimbledon. Depends on your viewing preferences I guess.

You're right of course and I've been watching the football in HD. Hopefully this is the start of the BBC increasing their HD output to something a bit more reasonable. We seem to have fallen far behind other countries in this area.

Not keen on this HD channel. I had a look at the Euro 2008 schedule and couldn't find an England match on any of the channels

Same on standard definition too ROTF. Disgraceful!

I'm disappointed with the Beeb. They were one of the first to transmit HD, and despite committing to the format have dragged their feet whilst channel 4 have now made all their transmissions available on HD.

Before someone else points it out, not all the stuff broadcast on HD is "proper" HD material, and I must admit the BBC HD programs are stunningly good in terms of picture quality.

All, I got Sky HD for £99 inc installation. Most of the agents who sell in the malls etc are able to do this deal if you push them....

i have sky hd and can get bbc-hd ch4-hd but for some reason cant pick up itv-hd...even for the footie ? anyone know why ! ive tried pressing the red button. the euro footie on bbc hd channel is a superb picture....sure would like to get itv hd too.

Due to commerical reasons, ITV HD is only available on the Freesat service run by the BBC and partners and not available on Sky HD.

Because it is not there nor will it be there.

That is why they launched Freesat HD, which does not require a Sky subscription just a new Freesat HD satellite box that will take the signal from a standard sky dish.

I do not have Freesat HD yet (waiting for PVR box to launch) but supposedly sometime in near future it will have BBC HD plus ITV channels in HD plus Channel 4 HD ( when sky contract ends) plus Channel 5 HD.


Plus other free to air chanels that will be broadcast in HD.

Could make Sky HD seem rather expensive/v poor value quite soon (Sky pls note)

all hd channels will be available through sky eventually........wont they ?

in that case they can go f**k off !

Quick update, went for the SKY HD 'deal' and have to say well happy. HD is jaw droppingly good, especially on the HD movie channels. Just wish there were more.


Cheers Karl

Agreed Karl, there should be more hd channels as i think we already pay enough for the privelege. the euro games on bbc hd are stunning! hopefully we will soon get more channels.

I have Sky HD and although it's extremely good, there are very few channels, especially as I'm too tight to pay for the movies that I won't ever watch, and I really don't do sport. History channels & Nat Geo are fantastic though.
It'll all come. In time they'll be loads to watch. For the extra tenner a month, it's well worth it.