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Cable company Telewest has launched the UK's first high definition television (HDTV) service. The service is limited at the moment to shows made by BBC Worldwide and users must have an HD-ready TV and a Telewest TVDrive set-top box to receive it.
HDTV provides a sharper, clearer and more colourful image than the current standard television picture.
SKY LAUNCH
Sky intends to launch its HD service this year, offering film, sports and documentary channels. It has already begun testing the equipment, taking HD cameras to sporting events including football and rugby union matches.
Telewest plans to expand the ranch of programmes it can offer in HDTV, with the addition of HD films.
The BBC has trialled a number of HDTV programmes including the latest big-budget nature programme Planet Earth and dramas Bleak House and Rome.
The enhanced HD image is due to the way the picture is filmed, broadcast and displayed on HDTV sets, which use a greater number of pixels to display images than on a standard TV set.
EARLY DAYS
HDTV is still very much in its infancy, but consumer equipment such as HD-ready TV is beginning to appear in retails stores. HD-DVD players are expected to ship to the UK within two months followed by the first HD-DVDs. HD-DVD players need HD-ready TV sets to play HD content for consumers.
Capacity for high definition broadcasts on terrestrial television (Freeview) will be limited until digital switchover - between 2008 and 2012.
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