Ofcom Gives BBC HD The Green Light

It has been reported that Ofcom has raised no objections to a full launch of BBC HD, the BBC’s high definition channel currently under trial.

As part of the public value test currently being applied to the channel, Ofcom is required to carry out a market impact assessment.

Ofcom have said that BBC HD “is likely to deliver consumer benefit through increased take-up of HD” and “seems likely to support the relative position of the DTT platform in the longer term” along with similar benefits for satellite and cable services. It warned, however, that potential benefits to the digital terrestrial platform would be negated post-digital switchover were the BBC forced to transmit only a four hour service on DTT compared to a full nine hour service on satellite and cable.

The channel’s launch now depends on the full verdict of the BBC Trust’s public value test, which is expected in November.