High-definition TV

Features

Technology expert George Cole answers your high-definition TV questions and tells you what it is, how to get it and why you'll want to.

What benefits does high-definition TV (HDTV) offer viewers?

Quite simply, stunning picture quality, with pictures containing about five times more information than standard-definition images. Once you've seen HDTV pictures on shows like Planet Earth, going back to "ordinary" TV is like going from colour to black-and-white.

Also, some programmes will be broadcast in Dolby surround-sound, but you'll need a home cinema set-up in order to get the full benefit.

How can I get HDTV?

You need three things:

• a suitably equipped TV
• a high-definition (HD) set-top box
• a subscription to a cable or satellite service offering HDTV

You can also purchase satellite set-top boxes that can receive free HDTV broadcasts, such as the BBC's trial HD channels. Prices start from around £99 and there is no subscription fee.

Ideally, your TV should be an HD-ready set, which means it can display HDTV pictures in full detail and has the correct digital connection (known as an HDMI socket). HD-ready sets have a logo to identify them.

Both Virgin Media's V+ box and BSkyB's Sky HD box allow you to record two programmes at the same time, they can store up to 80 hours of programmes, and you can record from an on-screen electronic programme guide. The Sky HD box costs £299 and there's a £10 a month subscription fee on top of your existing Sky subscription. The V+ box costs a one-off installation fee of £150 and a £5 per month subscription on top of most cable packages (there's no monthly fee for subscribers to the top package).

I bought my plasma TV a few years ago - can I get HDTV?

Broadcasters offering HDTV services recommend that viewers have an HD-ready set, which includes an HDMI digital socket that connects to the HDMI socket on the HD set-top box. If your TV doesn't have the right digital socket, you might still be able to watch HDTV pictures as both the Sky and Virgin Media boxes also work with some older sets. If in doubt, check with your dealer or set manufacturer.

Who's offering high-definition TV (HDTV) and what programmes are available?

The Sky HD (High Definition) satellite service offers a number of channels: Sky Sports HD 1, Sky Sports HD 2, Sky Box Office 1 HD, Sky Box Office 2 HD, Sky Movies HD 1, Sky Movies HD 2, Sky One HD, Sky Arts HD, National Geographic HD, The Discovery Channel HD, The History Channel HD and the non-subscription BBC HD trial channel. Note that the channels you can receive will depend on your standard Sky subscription. For example, you'll need to subscribe to a Sky Sports package in order to see sports programmes in HD.

Virgin Media's V+ service offers HD programming from BBC Worldwide, plus HD programmes and movies on demand.

The BBC runs an HDTV trial service, which is available on both cable and satellite for free. The BBC's HDTV offerings include music sessions, Planet Earth, Bleak House and Heroes.

For those with Freeview the news is less clear-cut. Owing to the limited broadcasting space available on digital terrestrial TV (DTT), HD transmissions couldn't be made available on Freeview until the digital switchover. The BBC and others have successfully conducted HD technical trials on Freeview, but it's unclear whether broadcasters will offer HD programmes on digital terrestrial TV.

HDTV and gaming

Because HDTV sets have to process a vast amount of information, there can be a very short delay before the image appears on-screen. This delay or "lag" isn't normally noticeable, but if you're playing a fast computer game, you may notice it on some sets. So if you're a serious gamer, check this out before buying an HD-ready set.

HDTV listings on RadioTimes.com

BBC HD
Channel 4 HD
Sky Movies Screen HD1
Sky Movies Screen HD2

To see listings for these channels, simply log in or register with us, then add them to your personalised line-up.

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