Five HD on Sky HD in the Summer
After having its Freeview HD slot pinched by the BBC for failing to measure up to Ofcom’s standards for a Freeview HD channel, Five has announced that their new hi-def channel will instead be launched on Sky this summer.
Ofcom rejected Five’s bid for an HD channel on the grounds that they had failed to find another broadcaster to fill the channel during the daytime (Five’s original bid was for an HD simulcast of its regular channel during prime time). With no programming to fill the daytime schedule, Ofcom ruled that the channel would instead be left to be used the BBC, as is the case with all channels that are not reserved for private broadcasting companies by Ofcom.
Five’s director of strategy, Charles Constable, called the move to Sky HD “an exciting opportunity”, and said that Five’s “programme schedule is more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster given the wide range of high quality series [it] broadcasts, such as our top-rated line-up of US dramas.”
Five HD is slated to launch this summer, and will be available without additional subscription to customers with the Sky HD package.
Source: T3
So as the report says on Sky, it looks like it will only be available with a free to view card, and not on Freesat.
Five HD Press Release
Five to Make HD Debut on Sky this Summer
Five and Sky today announced the launch this Summer of Five HD, a high definition version (HD) of Five which will show programming that has been made in HD. Five HD will start broadcasting to more than 2 million Sky+HD homes in July.
The public service broadcaster�s line-up lends itself to transmission in HD with top-rating US dramas such as CSI and FlashForward, popular soaps including Neighbours and Home & Away, international cricket and live Europa League football, as well as blockbuster movies.
With the addition of Five HD, Sky customers will enjoy the largest range of HD programming across both for free-to-air and pay television. With access to HD channels from all UK terrestrial broadcasters, and the widest variety of high-quality pay TV channels from Sky and other leading channel brands, Sky continues its commitment to offering homes the widest HD choice anywhere in the UK.
Five becomes the 42nd channel to commit to joining Sky�s HD line-up, following news that ITV 1HD, Sky News HD, Sky Sports HD 4 and Hallmark Channel HD are all to launch in the months ahead. Sky is aiming to have 50 HD channels by Christmas.
Charles Constable, Five�s Director of Strategy, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Five. Our programme schedule is more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster given the wide range of high quality series we broadcast, such as our top-rated line-up of US dramas. We�re delighted to begin our HD journey with Sky.�
Hilary Perchard, Sky�s Director of Product Management, comments: �We�re delighted to announce the addition of Five HD to Sky+HD, the UK�s leading high definition service. Sky remains committed to delivering customers the best HD service available, and this means continuing to launch high-quality channels right across the schedule. With the best of free and pay TV now in HD, there�s never been a better time to embrace HD.�
As Europe�s most comprehensive HD service, 2.1 million Sky+HD homes can currently access up to 37 HD channels spanning entertainment, sports, movies, arts, drama, kids and documentaries, including channel brands such as Sky Sports, Sky Movies, FX, Discovery, Channel 4, Sky Arts, MTV, Nat Geo, ESPN, Disney, the BBC and Sky1.
Sky recently standardised its set-top strategy by automatically offering a Sky+HD box to anyone joining Sky TV, and all new and existing customers can receive the box for free when subscribing to the Sky+HD channel pack for the first time. The Sky+HD box not only provides access to Europe�s most comprehensive HD service and Sky�s new HD electronic programme guide (EPG), but later this year it will also offer customers access to full broadband-enabled video-on-demand service and Sky 3D, Europe�s first 3D TV channel. Sky intends to launch Sky 3D to pubs and clubs in April before reaching residential homes later this year.
-End-
Notes to editors
Five HD will be available without additional subscription to viewers with Sky+HD boxes, a Sky viewing card and an HD-ready television set.
About Sky
Sky operates the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Over 9.7 million homes enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Arts continues to embrace new audiences as the UK�s only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; and Sky News remains a pioneer in multiplatform television news.
Almost 6.5 million Sky homes now enjoy the control and flexibility of Sky+ and 2.1 million homes have already joined Sky+HD, which provides access up to 37 dedicated HD channels and future innovative services such broadband-enabled video-on-demand and 3D TV.
Sky has also been the UK�s fastest growing broadband and fixed-telephony provider for the last two years.
About Five
Five (Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd.) is a commercially-funded UK public service television broadcaster. Launched in 1997, it is owned by RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network with 45 television stations and 31 radio stations in 11 countries and a worldwide production arm, FremantleMedia.
Five HD is scheduled to launch on Tuesday 13th July
It will be on Sky channel 171.
It will be free to view, and require a Sky viewing card to watch.
Fivre HD reception on the Costa Blanca and Spain should be OK – Five HD frequency is 12266 – Astra 2 south beam.
Programme information on the Five HD placeholder on Sky channel 171 now says “Programme no longer available” – an indication Five HD will be starting on Tuesday.
Programmes available in HD on Five will include Neighbours, Home and Away, K-Ville,Grey’s Anatomy, CSI Miami,
Following quoted from Five.tv press FAQ section:
“Five will be launching its own High Definition channel on Sky+ HD on Tuesday 13th July 2010. The channel will be called Five HD and will be on channel number 171. It will be a simulcast of the current standard definition service and will broadcast HD versions of our most popular acquired American dramas as well as our Australian soaps Neighbours and Home And Away. A wider variety of our commissioned programmes are being produced in High Definition and we expect these to become available on the channel in future.
In order to receive Five HD viewers will require a Sky+ HD box, a Sky viewing card and a television set that is HD compatible. There will be no additional subscription charge for the channel.
Although Freeview is launching a High Definition service in the near future, Five HD will not initially be available on this platform. However, we are exploring options to launch Five HD on Freeview at some future date and are also considering other digital television platforms.”
Sky has confirmed that Five HD will launch on the satellite platform on July 13.
The channel, which will be a simulcast of the main Five channel offering high definition versions of Neighbours, Home And Away and some US dramas, will be available at position 171 on Sky’s EPG.
Five HD will become the 42nd channel to join Sky’s HD lineup, with the satellite broadcaster aiming to have 50 HD channels available by Christmas.
Speaking when Five HD was first announced in March, Five’s director of strategy Charles Constable described the launch as an “exciting opportunity” for the broadcaster.
He added: “Our programme schedule is more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster given the wide range of high quality series we broadcast, such as our top-rated line-up of US dramas. We’re delighted to begin our HD journey with Sky.”