While the BBC has been beta-testing its HD terrestrial parameters for a couple of years, mostly around London, the government-funded broadcaster now reports it has been given the approval of the BBC Trust to ramp up a nationally available free satellite service for Britons in a joint venture with ITV.
The BBC, which claims to be the largest newsgathering entity in the world, said the free HD venue will fly under the banner of Freesat--and offer both SD and HD DBS services starting a year from now.
All U.K. consumers will be offered up to 200 channels, according to a BBC statement, as well as "full digital satellite interactivity and high definition capability" without subscriptions and with a choice of equipment (to likely include both SD and/or HD receivers) and a range of installation options, according to Tech Digest.
