High Definition TV in the UK

To watch High-definition TV, you'll need an "HD Ready" TV set . You'll need an LCD, plasma or DLP TV set (bye-bye to the old cathode ray tube). Even if you're not planning to sign up to an HD service just yet, consider getting a TV with the "HD READY" logo when buying a new TV.

Your LCD, Plasma or DLP TV set will need to have a minimum resolution of 720 lines in wide aspect ratio. More

Your HD TV will need a different type of connector for connecting to an HD set-top box, Blu-ray player or games console - the connector will either be a DVI (Digital Video Interface) or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connection, and the TV will need to support HDCP (high-bandwidth digital-content protection) compliant.

HD TVs are available from online retailers including:

• Dixons
• Misco (good choice and handy glossary)
• Comet
• Empire Direct
• 24-7 Electrical

You'll also need an HD TV decoder (such as a Sky HD set-top box) to watch hi-definition TV.

Sky HD Box - High Definition receiver

Important to note that High Definition is nothing to do with the Digital Switchover.

By 2012, the UK's analogue TV service will be switched off. You'll need a digital TV receiver to continue getting telly. You don't need an HD TV to get digital TV. More on the switchover can be found at switchhelp.co.uk

Sky Digital is currently leading the field in HDTV in the UK. Here are some facts:

• Sky Digital launched its High Definition satellite TV service in May 2006.
  
  
• Channels: Largest number in the UK. The following High Definition channels are available: The free-to-view BBC HD channel, Channel 4 HD, Sky One HD, Sky Arts HD, Luxe TV, three Sky HD Movies channels, 3 Sky Sports HD channels, Rush HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic, History HD, plus Sky Box Office HD movie channels. See the full list here.
  
  
• How to get: To get Sky HD, you'll need a Sky HD Box (priced either £199 or £249 when you buy online, depending on package), to pay the monthly HD subscription of £10, and to have an HD-Ready TV set. More at www.sky.com
  
  

Sky HD featured in our Show 23 of FrequencyCast, our online radio show

HD is being offered by cable TV firm Virgin Media.

Originally under Telewest, the High Definition service launched in March 2006. Content is supplied over their cable network.

• Content: At the start of 2008, there are only 3 channels available - BBC HD channel, and for an additional subscription, fee, there's Sky Movies HD 1 and 2. On demand HD content is available though, including Movies on Demand and TV choice, with full series such as Lost.
  
  
• To get Virgin Media High Definition, you'll need the Virgin Media V+ box. Installation of the V+ box costs £150. Additionally, there's a monthly subscription for the V+ service (£5 a month, or free if you're on the XL package)
  More on Virgin Media's site Offer: Half-price V+ Box installation until 31st May 08

In May 2008, the FreeSat service launched. Not connected to Sky, this offers a range of free channels, plus HD content without a subscription. More

• Channels: At launch, BBC HD was available, with ITV content exclusive to Freesat due "within a few weeks". More HD content is likely to appear on Freesat in the future. See the full Freesat channel list here.
  
  
• How to get: To get Freesat, you'll need a High Definition receiver (from £120) and a satellite dish (installation typically £80). More on our Freesat page
  
  

In April 2008, UK Regulator Ofcom announced that we can expect up to four high-definition digital TV channels to be delivered via a TV aerial on Freeview as soon as 2009.

One of these four channels will be offered to the BBC, with the other three reportedly up for tender.

The space for these channels will be freed up by getting the existing Freeview services to shift to a new transmission standard known as DVB-T2 and switching to MPEG-4 compression technology. There'll also be some channel shuffling to free space on Multiplex B. These technical changes and the reshuffling is expected to happen side-by-side with each TV region's digital switchover programme, so it won't be until 2012 that all of the proposed four Freeview HD channels become available across the whole UK.

It's expected that viewers will need a new Freeview box to get HD, but existing boxes will continue to work for non-HD Freeview channels

For more, see the Ofcom announcement.

The most common connector for High Definition equipment is the HDMI connector (pictured). We recommend the Nikkai Pure range (high-quality, oxygen-free copper) for minimal signal loss.

Looking for high-definition cables and adapters, such as HDMI leads, or HDMI to DVI cables? Try TV Cables or Maplin Electronics

High definition TV is transmitted in two different hi-def formats:

• 720 progressive - Each image is made up of 1280 pixels on 720 vertical lines. The 'progressive' bit refers to the fact that each line is drawn individually to build up the picture
• 1080 interlaced - Each image is made up of 1920 pixels on 1080 lines. 'Interlaced' refers to the fact that the image is split into two 'fields' that are scanned separately, odd-numbered lines, then even-numbered lines.

1080i offers more detail than 720p, but interlaced images aren't as smooth as images that are rendered progressively. The format of an HD picture depends on how the programme maker recorded the programme.

Set-top boxes such as the Sky HD box support both 720p or 1080i HD formats, switching according to the programme's format, and a high percentage of HD-Ready TV sets support 720p and 1080i (but check before you buy).

For a TV or HD product to be certified as "HD Ready", it has to meet the following requirements:

• Have a minimum native display resolution of 720 physical lines in wide aspect ratio.
• Accept HD input via: Analogue YPbPr1, and DVI or HDMI
• Have HD capable inputs that accept 1280x720 @ 50 and 60Hz progressive (“720p”), and 1920x1080 @ 50 and 60Hz interlaced (“1080i”)
• The DVI or HDMI input must support content protection (HDCP)

You can find full details of use of the "HD Ready" logo at http://www.eicta.org/index.php?id=32&id_article=50

Question from a site visitor: "Do I need a special aerial for LCD HD ready tv sets?" (Dec 2006)

At the time of writing, HD TV content is available from Sky TV (using a satellite dish) or Cable TV - it's not possible to get High-definition content via a TV aerial yet. When (and if) HD content is made available via Freeview, it's likely that if your aerial is good enough to get Freeview, it'll be fine with Freeview High Definition content.