[lovinthetelly]

Big news:

The BBC will begin to close its standard definition regional services on satellite next year, followed by the closure of their remaining SD channels at a later (currently unspecified) date. All of the BBC's services will be available in HD, so the only way to continue viewing BBC TV on Sky will be via HD-capable equipment.

SD-only viewers will initially receive the network 'red screen' version of BBC One in early 2023; essentially an inversion of the current situation with respect to HD.

Viewers will be directed to a website for more information (not yet live).

A welcome step.

[all new phil]

Great news. This should have been done a long time ago, particularly making the red screen of death the SD feed rather than the HD one.

I saw a suggestion / rumour of a push to switch more FTA channels over to HD. Is this maybe part of that?

[London Lite]

A sensible decision to leave one SD version of BBC One up for now, while switching the regional versions to HD, leaving Freeview as the main platform where the main BBC One regional output is in SD as well as HD once PSB3 is upgraded.

[aaron_scotland]

Excellent decision. Hopefully we can also bin the DVB-S transponders too, switch to S2 so there is plenty more room for HD channels.

[bkman1990]

Wow. This is very big news.

This move is a huge step forward in broadcasting terms for the BBC especially for those who watch the channels on Satellite in the UK.

This impending announcement could also co-incide with the upcoming HD launches of BBC Two NI, BBC Parliament, BBC Alba and BBC Red Button on Sky/Freesat which could take place in 2023 as well which would be very welcome.

Also could this move to HD only broadcasting affect the BBC TV stations that are run from BBC Studios outside of the UK like BBC Earth, BBC America and BBC Kids?

[XIII]

Who watches SD versions of BBC One when the HD option is available?

[London Lite]

Who watches SD versions of BBC One when the HD option is available?

Those with older Sky/FTA satellite boxes and for regional news in England.

[TVenthusiasm]

Finally! SD looks so outdated now in 2022 so the fact that all BBC channels on satellite will be in HD only from next year is huge news. A lot of broadcasters across Europe are now only in HD (I think) so it's great the BBC is finally following suit.

[Keith]

Big news:

The BBC will begin to close its standard definition regional services on satellite next year, followed by the closure of their remaining SD channels at a later (currently unspecified) date. All of the BBC's services will be available in HD, so the only way to continue viewing BBC TV on Sky will be via HD-capable equipment.

SD-only viewers will initially receive the network 'red screen' version of BBC One in early 2023; essentially an inversion of the current situation with respect to HD.

I'm assuming that initially they'll opt to keep 4 BBC One SD satellite feeds, one for each nation. (Possibly two for England if they wish to retain a BBC One North.) That way there's less likely to be objections from the national parliaments/assemblies.

[Jimbo2022]

Apologies for posting this elsewhere in Pres Cafe and thank you for directing me to the right place. (Thank you to admin)