Channel 5 Scraps Plans for HD Freeview Channel

LONDON: Channel 5 has notified Ofcom that it is not going to proceed with its application for the fifth HD capacity slot on the Freeview digital platform.

Freeview HD currently offers four channels: BBC One HD, BBC HD (which is set to turn into BBC Two HD), ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD. A fifth slot is scheduled to launch in April 2012.

"Ofcom has been notified by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited that it does not wish to proceed with its application for the fifth HD capacity slot on digital terrestrial TV at the present time," said Ofcom in a statement. "Subject to any future Ofcom decision to re-advertise the slot, the capacity will remain with the Multiplex operator BBC Free-to-View Limited and can be used by it for BBC services or services provided by a third party via a commercial arrangement."

This is the second time that Channel 5 has pulled out of its plans to launch its HD network on Freeview. When Channel 5 wasn’t able to meet Ofcom’s requirements for the launch of Channel 5 HD in March 2010 the capacity was handed back to the BBC.