As reported earlier this week Freeview customers are to get HD content from next year but London was not due to get the HD content until 2012!
Until today when the BBC applied to Ofcom for temporary frequency assignments that would enable it to launch the reconfigured version of multiplex B – which will carry high definition services from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 – far earlier in some areas than the current timetable would permit.
To receive HD content earlier and in time for the Football World cup in 2010 the BBC requested to Ofcom for there to be a temporarily assigned corporation for the purposes of broadcasting the high definition multiplex in advance of the existing region-by-region reconfiguration timetable. If approved, the BBC would be able to launch new multiplex B services in large metro areas in late 2009 and early 2010.
Subject to approval, Ofcom said today it is minded to allow the BBC to use channel 31 (550-558 MHz) in London for a case study in advance of a launch in other cities. Crystal Palace would be the preferred transmitter site.
Ofcom commented “Our analysis suggests that accepting the BBC’s request is likely to further facilitate the implementation of Ofcom and the Government’s policy to reorganise services on DTT and upgrade Multiplex B to use the more efficient DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 standards,” the regulator said. “Further, that the use of this temporary frequency in the London region is likely to result in an earlier and larger market for the new services and related equipment. Such assignment is therefore expected to increase competition between receiver manufacturers resulting in more choice and lower prices for viewers. We also believe that the opportunity cost of assigning this frequency for the limited period proposed is relatively low and the benefits potentially high.”