C4, Five Seek Freeview HD Slot

LONDON: Five and Channel 4 have each submitted applications to Ofcom for the fourth HD service slot on DTT platform Freeview, with the regulator expected to make its decision in April.

Five is looking to launch its HD offering by the end of 2010, delivering imports such as House and CSI, plus local fare like The Gadget Show and Fifth Gear, as well as blockbuster movies and sport. The service would simulcast Five’s existing output between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., while a further three hours each day would be dedicated to screening Five’s HD shows. Five’s submission also includes a potential HD VOD service.

The C4 bid, together with S4C, eyes an HD channel launch by end 2011/early 2012 at the latest. It would be an extension of Film4, in HD, between 11 a.m. and 4 a.m. S4C’s kids’ service would run from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. In between those two slots would a VOD service.

Three Freeview slots have already been alloted to HD services: ITV, Channel 4/S4C and the BBC. All four HD services on Freeview will be available on a region by region basis as the country switches over to digital TV.