CHANNEL 4 - HD CHANNELS ON FREEVIEW BY NEXT YEAR, REGULATOR SAYS

Three new high-definition (HD) television channels will be made available on Freeview services next year, Ofcom has said.

A fourth HD channel will follow when the digital switchover is completed across all regions of the UK in 2012, the regulator revealed.

The announcement is part of a major technology upgrade for digital terrestrial television (DTT) announced by Ofcom.

At present HD channels are available on only satellite and cable services.

However, viewers will require new set-top boxes and the analogue signal in their area to be switched off in order to watch the new channels, one of which has been allocated to the BBC.

The other three channels will be licensed to either ITV, Channel 4, Five or Wales' S4C.

Ed Richards, the chief executive of Ofcom, said a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to upgrade DTT was before the regulator and broadcasters.

Explaining the importance of the technology changes, he said: "It offers benefits for broadcasters – who will be able to launch new services without using any new spectrum – and viewers – who will have access to new channels and services on free to air."