BBC HD
| BBC HD | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 15 May 2006 (trial) 1 December 2007 (channel) |
| Closed | 30 November 2007 (trial) 26 March 2013 (channel) |
| Owned by | BBC |
| Picture format |
1080i (Satellite and Cable) 1080i (Freeview) |
| Audience share | 0.3% (November 2012, BARB) |
| Replaced by | BBC Two HD |
| Sister channel(s) |
BBC One BBC Two BBC Three BBC Four BBC News BBC Parliament CBBC CBeebies |
| Website | www |
|
Availability (at time of closure)
|
|
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 102 |
| Satellite | |
| Freesat | Channel 109 |
| Sky (UK) | Channel 115 |
| Sky (Ireland) | Channel 143 |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 187 |
| Smallworld Cable | Channel 120 |
| UPC Ireland | Channel 139 |
BBC HD was a high-definition television channel 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 before closing on 26 March 2013. It broadcast only during the afternoon and evening and only broadcast material shot in High Definition, either in a simulcast with another channel or by inserting a repeat of a HD programme.
The channel featured a mix of programming including new episodes of Top Gear, Doctor Who and Hustle, repeats of HD programmes including Planet Earth, Bleak House and Torchwood as well as live coverage of large events such as The Proms, Wimbledon, the Eurovision Song Contest and the FIFA World Cup.
The channel was replaced by a HD simulcast of BBC Two, partly as a result of budget cuts affecting the entire corporation.
BBC HD began as a trial station on 15 May 2006 to test the possibility and technical practicality of broadcasting programmes in HD. The first programme to be broadcast that was specifically made for HD was natural history programme Planet Earth, which was shown on the 27 May 2006. The trial by 450 businesses and homes was set to last until June 2007, however just before this deadline the BBC Trust began a Public Value Test of the service to determine whether, as the BBC argued, the service was of worth to the general public. As a result, the HD service was extended throughout the testing period which began on 21 May. The result of the test was announced on 19 November that they had approved the BBC Executive's high definition television proposals to allow the launch of UK's first free-to-air, mixed-genre public service HD channel.
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