BBC rollout of regional BBC1 HD versions to offer ‘better experience’

Viewers in England with Freesat, Freeview, Sky, YouView devices will get a better viewing and audio experience of BBC1 from early 2023, according to the UK pubcaster, as regional versions of BBC1 HD become available on broadcast platforms.

“By Spring next year, viewers in England will be able to receive BBC1 HD for their region and not have to tune away to watch local news and programming. This, coupled with upgrades to BBC channels that aren’t currently available on some devices in HD, will mean viewers will get a more easily accessible, better quality experience when watching BBC programmes,” said Kieran Clifton, BBC director of distribution.

The BBC aims for the rollout of BBC1 HD in England for Freeview, Sky, YouView and Freesat viewers to be complete by April 2023. And for satellite viewers on Sky and Freesat, the BBC will be completing the HD upgrade to the rest of its channels – adding HD versions of BBC2 Northern Ireland, BBC ALBA and BBC Parliament.

The BBC already broadcasts BBC1 in HD in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the digital terrestrial (Freeview, YouView) and digital satellite platforms (Sky, Freesat). Where possible, says the corporation, the regional version of BBC1 HD will also be easier to find, in the top slot (1/101) of the electronic programme guide (EPG).

Today’s news follows the roll-out of regional versions of BBC One HD on newer internet-connected platforms including Sky’s Glass, Virgin Media Cable and Stream platforms and more recently BT’s TV Box Pro and TV Box Mini.

In order to deliver the HD improvements, the BBC will be making some changes which will mean local programmes will no longer be available in standard-definition.