The BBC is to launch a new high-definition channel, BBC Two HD, and make TV shows available on its iPlayer service before they are broadcast on television.
On 26th March, the BBC will switch off its BBC HD Channel and replace it with a high-definition simulcast of BBC Two, with new programmes being made available in HD for first time. Paul Hollywood – Bread, The Fall, Science Britannica and Maintaining Britain Alive were among the new shows mentioned, along with popular current programmes such as Mock The Week, Q/ and Springwatch, which are all expected to make a return to the screen.
Launched in 2007, the BBC HD Channel is currently the only way to watch BBC Three and BBC Four shows in high definition. With its closure, it’s unclear whether viewers will have to log on to the BBC’s iPlayer to continue watching in HD or simply have to put up with standard-definition broadcasts.
“BBC One HD has already proved to be highly valued by our viewers,” stated Janice Hadlow, controller of BBC Two. “The launch of BBC Two HD will allow us to showcase more of our programmes at their very best.”
BBC Two HD will launch on Tuesday 26th March, on Sky HD (channel 169), Freeview HD/YouView (102), Virgin Media (187), Freesat HD (109) and BT Vision (852).
Meanwhile, a 12-month trial will see around 40 hours of programming made available online through iPlayer before it’s broadcast over the airwaves. The range of programmes, which have yet to be confirmed by the corporation, will include content from a number of different genres. The trial follows on from a small number of iPlayer screenings this past year, which included the Doctor Who-influenced Pond Life, several BBC Four shows and numerous BBC Three pilot episodes.
The BBC wasn’t the first broadcaster to premiere episodes online before they aired on TV; Channel 4 posted the first series of geeky sitcom The IT Crowd to its 40D catch-up TV service before it went over the air.
“During 2012 the BBC brought selected online-only programmes to viewers,” BBC publicist Ian Walker said of the plans. “We will make on this in 2013, and make more programming completely available to our audiences via BBC iPlayer.”
The BBC’s iPlayer launched in 2007 and is now one of the most popular services around, receiving over 150 million video requests each month for TV and radio shows aired on BBC channels over the previous seven days.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk