It’s over a year since Sky Glass became the first provider to offer a regionalised BBC One in HD throughout the UK. Sky satellite will gain the full BBC One HD regional service in early 2023.
Sky Glass launched with regional BBC One HD on its first channel slot in October 2021, although at the time many of the regional services were upscaled.
Since then, additional platforms have rolled out a fully regional BBC One in HD, banishing the red screen asking viewers to switch to standard definition. Additionally, more BBC One regions are now broadcast in full HD, instead of being upscaled.
On many platforms, the rollout of BBC One HD is accompanied by a full HD rollout of remaining BBC channels. This includes HD upgrades for BBC Alba and BBC Parliament.
As of November 2022, this is the latest state of rollout:
BBC One HD rollout: completed
You can watch your regional BBC One in HD on these platforms:
- BT TV – Pro boxes in IPTV mode
- Sky Glass / Sky Stream
- Virgin Media cable TV
- Virgin Media Stream
BBC One HD rollout
Platforms to be completed in early 2023:
- Freeview
- Freesat
- Sky satellite
- BBC iPlayer
Sky satellite and Freesat are reliant on the same infrastructure to give viewers access to the full set of BBC channels in HD.
On satellite, additional capacity is required to cater for the extra HD services. This will be gained by reducing the number of SD channels ahead of a full closure. Meanwhile, on Freeview, the current HD multiplex needed reconfiguration to cater for additional regions.
Regional closures
The BBC will close two regional versions of BBC One in December, reducing the number of regional news services that need converting to HD.
The final regional news bulletins from Cambridge and Oxford will be broadcast just before Christmas. BBC One Oxford and BBC One East (West) will then be removed from satellite as part of a wider cull of regional SD channels.
Viewers currently receiving BBC One Oxford will switch to BBC One South. BBC One East (W) viewers will switch to BBC One East.
Other changes
At the same time, the BBC is also rolling out greater integration with BBC Sounds. The upgrades mean listeners selecting a BBC Radio channel number are redirected to a stream from BBC Sounds. This is now standard on Sky Glass, Virgin Media Stream and the BT TV Pro box in IPTV mode.
On TV, the BBC is also due to complete the full rollout of BBC Two HD on satellite. The Northern Irish version of the channel is still in SD on Sky and Freesat channel 102 in Northern Ireland. HD versions of BBC Alba and BBC Parliament are also being rolled out.
First published 13/09/2022; Last updated: 20/11/2022 22:39