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BBC tests 3D HDTV broadcast of Six Nations Rugby

The BBC test-screened the RBS Six Nations rugby match between Scotland and England, in what is believed to be the first-ever live test screening of an international sports event in 3D free HDTV via satellite.

The screening, at Riverside Studios in London, was enabled by a joint venture between BBC Sport and The3DFirm, a consortium comprising media communications firm Can Communicate, 3D specialist company Inition and hire and post production house Axis Films.

According to David Wooster of The3DFirm, 3D creates an experience which is almost as good as being at the actual event.

The technique, which is still under development, involves bouncing dual free HDTV signals around and re-encoding them as a 3D experience.

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BDA calls for industry-wide support for Blu-ray

Following Toshiba’s recent decision to halt the production of HD-DVD devices, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is calling for the industry to unite behind the Blu-ray high definition format.

The Association is calling for support to persuade free HDTV owners to adopt the Blu-ray format, in preference to the dominant DVD-Video format.

Victor Matsuda, Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association Global Promotions Committee, wants the Blu-ray Disc to be at the heart of the home entertainment industry, and believes this will require the participation of the whole industry, including CE manufacturers, content providers, software developers, replicators and retailers.

A major challenge to Blu-ray will come from HDTV downloads, and the BDA is keen to publicise the higher quality viewing experience provided by Blu-ray Discs. It is planning to increase its marketing programme to publicise the benefits of the format.

According to the BDA, Blu-ray is six times superior in picture quality to SD DVD, and substantially superior to cable or satellite.

Ofcom promises free HDTV by 2009

UK communications watchdog Ofcom has promised free HDTV services.

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide free HDTV programmes on Freeview in 2009-2012.

Ofcom has stated that this will be possible without allocating additional spectrum to carry more data.

"Today's consultation sets out how this can be achieved without using additional radio spectrum, which is a scarce and valuable resource, while protecting existing services," said the regulator in a statement.

"Ofcom believes that the upgrade could be complete in time for digital switchover in the Granada television region, which is due in late 2009 or early 2010.

"The new services would then be available as the switchover is rolled out across the rest of the UK, completing with four HDTV services being available by 2012."

Ofcom said that the move could be achieved by upgrading broadcast technology to handle the extra data flow. One of the two Freeview channels set aside for the BBC will be shared with others to ease handling of the load.

The BBC will probably be the first to introduce free HDTV programmes. The corporation has been shooting some media in HDTV for a number of years in anticipation of the change.

Get HDTV for Free

Want to get free HDTV programming? In many countries, like the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Australia, and Japan, it is possible to use an antenna to receive HD programs.

Unless the current plan is revised, viewers in the UK will not benefit from this form of HDTV broadcasting.

The only way to receive free HDTV is to subscribe to services like SKY HD or NTL/Telewest. OFCOM, the UK telecommunications regulator, plans to auction off the air-space that will be left over from the closure of analogue TV channels. OFCOM defends the plan by pointing out that a lack of present interest in HDTV makes the technology a premium service.

In 2006, there was a limited trial of HDTV over Freeview. An overwhelming majority of respondents (some 86%) said that having free HDTV over Freeview was important. This same test run showed that consumers are expecting broadcasters, like BBC, ITV, C4, and Five, to be on the cutting edge when it comes to offering the free HD services.

With the success of the trial run, the support of companies like Sony, and the increasing rise of HDTV sets being purchased, the choice that OFCOM seems determined to make is most assuredly the wrong one for the region.

Consumers that are interested in HDTV are encouraged to support movements like “HDForAll” in an effort to turn OFCOM in a different direction.