BBC News HD channel to launch on 10th December 2013

The BBC today announced it will launch five new subscription-free HD channels on Tuesday 10th December, including BBC News HD.

The other four channels are BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, CBeebies HD and CBBC HD and will be available on Freeview HD, Freesat HD, YouView, Sky HD and Virgin Media.

Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, said: “I am delighted that we’re able to launch our new HD channels in time for Christmas, when families gather together to enjoy some of the best TV from the BBC. This year, people will be able to watch even more of our programmes in brilliant quality.”

The new channels will be listed on the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) via the following numbers on each of these platforms:

BBC News HD
Sky HD – 570
Virgin Media – 604
Freeview HD / YouView – 107
Freesat HD – 212

BBC Three HD
Sky HD – 115
Virgin Media – 163
Freeview HD / YouView – 105
Freesat HD – 147

BBC Four HD
Sky HD – 116
Virgin Media – 164
Freeview HD / YouView – 106
Freesat HD – 148

CBBC HD
Sky HD – 613
Virgin Media – 710
Freeview HD / YouView – 73
Freesat HD – 607

CBeebies HD
Sky HD – 614
Virgin Media – 711
Freeview HD / YouView – 74
Freesat HD – 608

All five new HD channels will broadcast the same programmes as their standard definition equivalents in HD. Viewers will also be able to catch-up on HD programmes from these channels on BBC iPlayer.