Virgin Media has become the first major TV platform to roll out HD versions of BBC Parliament and BBC Alba, the BBC’s Gaelic channel.
The move means cable TV viewers can now access live Scottish football on BBC Alba with improved picture quality. It also means the end of blurry images from the House of Commons, when Parliament returns after Easter.
It’s part of part of a wider BBC switch from standard to high definition, rolling out across various TV platforms this year. It follows the launch of a fully regionalised BBC One HD in England on Virgin Media’s TV platforms in the winter.
BBC Parliament is the home of the BBC’s live coverage from the House of Commons and House of Lords. BBC Parliament HD has replaced the standard definition channel on Virgin Media channel 605. The service is currently relaying BBC News HD until 2pm 19th April, when Parliament returns from its Easter recess.
BBC Alba is the BBC’s Gaelic language channel, operated in conjunction with MG ALBA. On air from late afternoon until midnight, the channel carries a range of programming. In addition to live football, its output includes children’s programmes in the early evening, news at 8pm, plus factual and entertainment programming. BBC Alba HD has replaced the standard definition version of the channel on Virgin Media channel 120 in Scotland and channel 161 elsewhere in the UK.
All currently supported Virgin Media receivers support HD by default.
BBC HD upgrade
The BBC is upgrading remaining standard definition services to HD in a process that has started with online and cable TV providers. Sky Glass was the first service to gain access to a broader range of BBC HD channels, but Virgin Media is the first large provider to unlock the extra HD services.
Satellite and terrestrial (Freeview) viewers will in the course of the next 12 months see additional BBC HD services made available, notably all BBC One regions in HD. The BBC iPlayer is also getting an upgrade to carry all services in HD. This will allow viewers unable to receive the full set of BBC HD channels through their aerial to stream the channels on their smart TV instead.
BT and Virgin Media are in the process of launching new IP-based TV services which, like Sky Glass, will include the HD channels.