BBC Trust approves HD channel

The BBC Trust has provisionally approved the BBC’s plans for a high definition channel, commenting that it would have high pubic value and would cause little adverse market impact.

However the Trust will not decide until next year whether the service will be launched on Freeview.

The channel is being tested on cable and satellite, but launching on Freeview is subject to Ofcom freeing up some bandwith. The regulator is expected to report on digital spectrum usage in the new year.

The trust is also concerned that consumers would have to upgrade their freeview boxes to receive full HD broadcasts.

The Trust’s approval is conditional on the HD channel being available on Freesat when it launches. It must also eventually be available via the Internet and must not replicate the BBC1 schedule.

The report advises the BBC to collaborate with IPTV operators, to ensure that the channel does not overburden broadband capacity.

The BBC HD channel will cost £21.5m when running at full capacity after digital switchover in 2012.

The provisional approval is subject to a 4-week public consultation period, with a final decision expected by Wednesday 21 November.