ITV HD
Encyclopedia
ITV1 HD is a British free-to-air high-definition television channel operated by ITV plc
, the company which is contracted to provide 11 ITV
services across the UK. ITV1 HD is available to view in England, Wales and the Scottish Borders on Freesat
via channel 119, Freeview channel 51, Sky channel 178 and Virgin Media
channel 113. From 2 April 2010, ITV1 HD became a standard channel available on all digital platforms.
The channel originally existed on a trial basis from June until November 2006, primarily to show the World Cup
games to which ITV
had the rights.
The channel was available to subscribers of the Telewest
TV Drive cable service and was also broadcast as a low-power digital terrestrial (DVB-T
) channel from London's Crystal Palace Transmitter
as part of a terrestrial HDTV trial involving 450 homes. ITV HD did not broadcast on satellite television
, unlike BBC HD
. It was available on Telewest channel 118 and Freeview channel 503 in homes which were involved in the HD trial.
In addition to the World Cup games, ITV HD showed classic films remastered in HD (such as All Quiet on the Western Front
and The Big Sleep
), documentaries (such as Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures) and dramas such as Poirot
.
The original ITV HD stopped broadcasting on the 30 November 2006.
High definition broadcasts from ITV plc
launched exclusively on Freesat
, the new digital satellite service from the BBC
and ITV
on 7 June 2008, just in time for the start of UEFA Euro 2008. ITV plc plans to spend £10m during 2008 on the launch of ITV HD. ITV HD was unavailable on STV and UTV
due to these channels being unwilling to give their viewers access to the ITV branded service. However, it was available in Scotland and Northern Ireland on ITV1 London (Freesat channel 977).
ITV1 HD aimed to include 35% 'native HD' content at the start of 2010, rising to at least 60% at the start of 2012 and at least 70% at the start of 2014. In the early years, the service will focus on sport and drama content, over time it is expected that the majority of other genres to convert to native HD.
ITV1 HD operated from 18:00 to 23:00 seven days a week. From August 2009, ITV began testing a HD simulcast of ITV1
Granada
on satellite, before later switching to ITV London
. On 26 November 2009, the ITV1 HD logo appeared as a digital on-screen graphic
during programming and the off air station identification
.
, as well as switching from a red button interactive service to a full time channel on Freesat. It continues to only be available in ITV plc owned ITV franchise areas, covering England, Wales and the Scottish Borders area, though red button access on ITV1 London (Freesat channel 977) remains in place. The launch coincided with the closure of Men & Motors
. During March 2010, Ofcom issued broadcast licenses for six regional variations of ITV1 HD, with Central, Granada/Border and Meridian/Anglia regions joining London/LWT in June 2010. Central and Meridian variations are only available on a free-to-view
basis on satellite, this also means that Freesat viewers in those regions are instead given either the Granada/Border or London/LWT variation.
On 12 June 2010, ITV1 HD cut off England
's first 2010 FIFA World Cup
game inadvertently into an advert break for 25 seconds, as a result, missing their first World Cup 2010 goal. This interruption also caused the remaining transmission to be in standard-definition. The standard definition ITV1 broadcasts did not miss the goal, scored by Steven Gerrard
. The broadcaster confirmed on 15 June that it had received around 5,000 complaints about the incident. ITV has already said it was not to blame for the problem, which was pinned on human error at Technicolor, the firm which provides transmission. On 23 August 2010, Ofcom
cleared ITV over the "unfortunate error", despite receiving 823 complaints. After reviewing the situation, Ofcom acknowledged the frustration of ITV1 HD viewers at the transmission break, but decided that ITV's actions to resolve the situation had been sufficient.
ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom...
, the company which is contracted to provide 11 ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
services across the UK. ITV1 HD is available to view in England, Wales and the Scottish Borders on Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
via channel 119, Freeview channel 51, Sky channel 178 and Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
channel 113. From 2 April 2010, ITV1 HD became a standard channel available on all digital platforms.
2006 trial
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
games to which ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
had the rights.
The channel was available to subscribers of the Telewest
Telewest
Telewest, formerly Telewest Broadband and Telewest Communications was a cable Internet, broadband internet, telephone supplier and cable television provider in the United Kingdom...
TV Drive cable service and was also broadcast as a low-power digital terrestrial (DVB-T
DVB-T
DVB-T is an abbreviation for Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial; it is the DVB European-based consortium standard for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television that was first published in 1997 and first broadcast in the UK in 1998...
) channel from London's Crystal Palace Transmitter
Crystal Palace Transmitter
The Crystal Palace transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications site in the Crystal Palace area of the London Borough of Bromley, England .Its tower is the third-tallest structure in London...
as part of a terrestrial HDTV trial involving 450 homes. ITV HD did not broadcast on satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
, unlike BBC HD
BBC HD
BBC HD is a high-definition television network provided by the BBC. The service was initially run as a trial from 15 May 2006 until becoming a full service on 1 December 2007...
. It was available on Telewest channel 118 and Freeview channel 503 in homes which were involved in the HD trial.
In addition to the World Cup games, ITV HD showed classic films remastered in HD (such as All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front (1979 film)
All Quiet on the Western Front is a television movie produced by ITC Entertainment, released on November 14, 1979, starring actors Richard Thomas from The Waltons fame as Paul Baumer, and Ernest Borgnine as Katczinsky...
and The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep (1978 film)
The Big Sleep was the second film version of Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Michael Winner and stars Robert Mitchum in his second feature film portrayal of the detective Philip Marlowe. The cast includes Sarah Miles, Candy Clark, Joan Collins, and...
), documentaries (such as Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures) and dramas such as Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios...
.
The original ITV HD stopped broadcasting on the 30 November 2006.
2008 launch
ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom...
launched exclusively on Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
, the new digital satellite service from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
on 7 June 2008, just in time for the start of UEFA Euro 2008. ITV plc plans to spend £10m during 2008 on the launch of ITV HD. ITV HD was unavailable on STV and UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
due to these channels being unwilling to give their viewers access to the ITV branded service. However, it was available in Scotland and Northern Ireland on ITV1 London (Freesat channel 977).
Freeview and 2009 rebrand
ITV HD became ITV1 HD when it relaunched for Freeview HD on 2 December 2009. It continued to operate on Freesat as a red button service on select programming.ITV1 HD aimed to include 35% 'native HD' content at the start of 2010, rising to at least 60% at the start of 2012 and at least 70% at the start of 2014. In the early years, the service will focus on sport and drama content, over time it is expected that the majority of other genres to convert to native HD.
ITV1 HD operated from 18:00 to 23:00 seven days a week. From August 2009, ITV began testing a HD simulcast of ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
Granada
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
on satellite, before later switching to ITV London
ITV London
ITV London is the on-air brand name used by ITV Broadcasting Limited for the two Channel 3 broadcast franchises, Carlton Television and London Weekend Television in the London ITV region.-History:...
. On 26 November 2009, the ITV1 HD logo appeared as a digital on-screen graphic
Digital on-screen graphic
A digital on-screen graphic is a watermark-like station logo that many television broadcasters overlay over a portion of the screen-area of their programs to identify the channel...
during programming and the off air station identification
Station identification
Station identification is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name...
.
2010 launch as a standard channel
On 12 March 2010, it was announced that ITV1 HD would become a standard channel on 2 April 2010, simulcasting the main ITV1 channel, and launching on Sky and Virgin MediaVirgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
, as well as switching from a red button interactive service to a full time channel on Freesat. It continues to only be available in ITV plc owned ITV franchise areas, covering England, Wales and the Scottish Borders area, though red button access on ITV1 London (Freesat channel 977) remains in place. The launch coincided with the closure of Men & Motors
Men & Motors
Men & Motors was a men's lifestyle television channel in the UK. It was the last remaining station operated by the former Granada Sky Broadcasting joint venture, set up by Granada Television and satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting in 1996...
. During March 2010, Ofcom issued broadcast licenses for six regional variations of ITV1 HD, with Central, Granada/Border and Meridian/Anglia regions joining London/LWT in June 2010. Central and Meridian variations are only available on a free-to-view
Free-to-view
Free-to-view is a term used for free of charge and encrypted audio and/or video contents transmission that do not require any form of continual subscription...
basis on satellite, this also means that Freesat viewers in those regions are instead given either the Granada/Border or London/LWT variation.
Technical problems
ITV1 HD's first HD drama broadcast of Harley Street reportedly suffered technical problems including picture and sound quality and failing to revert to the normal ITV1 broadcast after the programme had finished. Also, several Digital Spy forum members reported that they could not access HD content via the red button due to the ITV1 HD service "only being available through the London region".On 12 June 2010, ITV1 HD cut off England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
's first 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
game inadvertently into an advert break for 25 seconds, as a result, missing their first World Cup 2010 goal. This interruption also caused the remaining transmission to be in standard-definition. The standard definition ITV1 broadcasts did not miss the goal, scored by Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
. The broadcaster confirmed on 15 June that it had received around 5,000 complaints about the incident. ITV has already said it was not to blame for the problem, which was pinned on human error at Technicolor, the firm which provides transmission. On 23 August 2010, Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
cleared ITV over the "unfortunate error", despite receiving 823 complaints. After reviewing the situation, Ofcom acknowledged the frustration of ITV1 HD viewers at the transmission break, but decided that ITV's actions to resolve the situation had been sufficient.