BBC launches five new subscription-free HD channels this week

The new channels – BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, BBC News HD, CBeebies HD and CBBC HD will be available on Freeview HD, Freesat HD, YouView, Sky HD and Virgin Media from December 10.

Viewers will also be able to catch-up on HD programmes from these channels on BBC iPlayer.

Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, says: “I am delighted that we’re able to launch our new HD channels in time for Christmas, when families gather together to enjoy some of the best TV from the BBC. This year, people will be able to watch even more of our programmes in brilliant quality.”

All five new HD channels will broadcast the same programmes as their standard definition equivalents in HD.

More than 50 per cent of homes in the UK are already HD enabled, with reports estimating that the number of HD homes is expected to grow to reach over 20 million (80 per cent of all UK homes) by 2016 and more than 23 million homes (90 per cent of all UK homes) by 2019.