STV HD now testing!

[daveh75]

For those of you north of the border...

As of tuesday, 2 STV HD test channels appeared on Astra 2D,currently labelled 3852 and 3855, and have been broadcasting a mixture of upscaled SD,colour/test bars(1080i) and currently HD video only (no audio) and now/next EPG data.

As yet there has been no official announcement as to when STV HD launches, other than a suggestion on Sky's twitter feed that it may be available on the platform from june 11th.

 

[Thomassteele]

Heres hoping. And according to the BBC Trust website,

BBC One goes high definition

28 May 2010

The BBC is to launch a high definition (HD) version of BBC One on DTT, cable and satellite later in the year, following the BBC Trust's approval of proposals from the Executive.

In addition, the Trust also agreed an extension of daily hours on the existing, dedicated BBC HD channel from an average of nine hours to 12 hours a day. These changes are reflected in amended service licences for BBC One and the BBC HD channel, published today.

BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons said:

"The launch of a high definition simulcast of BBC One is great news for audiences. As we move towards digital switchover, this is a high-profile commitment to the provision of HD services, which will help to fulfil the BBC's public purpose of delivering to the public the benefit of new technologies. And this is possible within existing channel budgets, meaning excellent value for licence fee payers."

In taking this decision, the Trust took careful account of the implications of the proposals, including noting that adverse impact on other broadcasters was likely to be minimal, that neither change represents a new area of activity for the BBC, and that the changes can be made within the agreed budget range for each channel.

Despite the overall benefits of a universally available HD simulcast of BBC One for audiences, the Trust also recognised that technical and financial constraints currently prevent additional variations, and asked the BBC Executive to take steps to minimise the effects of this on viewers in the nations and regions.

 

[Anonymous]

daveh75:
For those of you north of the border...

As of tuesday, 2 STV HD test channels appeared on Astra 2D,currently labelled 3852 and 3855, and have been broadcasting a mixture of upscaled SD,colour/test bars(1080i) and currently HD video only (no audio) and now/next EPG data.

As yet there has been no official announcement as to when STV HD launches, other than a suggestion on Sky's twitter feed that it may be available on the platform from june 11th.

about time too stv, there just a bunch of penny pinchers cheapskates.

 

[camac]

Thanks for the info daveh75.

Maybe us poor saps north of Hadrians Wall can stop feeling like scond class citizens, well for a little while at least.

 

[Thomassteele]

No sign of the channel on the Freesat EPG, but on the labelled 3855 channel in non-freesat mode, it is actually broadcasting the news at he moment, info bar at the bottom states HD 1080i, but it will probably be upscaled and mixed just like ITV HD.

 

[daveh75]

Thomassteele:No sign of the channel on the Freesat EPG, but on the labelled 3855 channel in non-freesat modeIt wont appear on the EPG till it launches...

For those with Sky, STV HD can be added via "add channels" by using the parameters below...

Frequency: 10.935GHz

Polarity: Vertical

Symbol Rate: 22000

FEC: 5/6

EDIT- Forgot to mention, although the tests are being broadcast FTA/in the clear, some content has an encryption flag set,which prevents Sky boxes from receiving them-So if you have trouble receiving the test broadcasts,try again later.

This isn't a problem for Freesat boxes, and as TS has found,the tests can be viewed in "Non-Freesat" mode.