Freeview HD explained

High definition (HD) is one of the most significant developments in TV in recent years. All new TVs rated and recommended in the Which? LCD and plasma TV reviews are HD-ready.

But an HD-ready TV isn't all you need to experience the crystal clarity of HD TV. Read on to find out how to watch in high definition with Freeview HD.

High definition with Freeview HD

To watch HD TV, you need a high-definition service as well as an HD-ready TV set but, until now, you’ve had limited options to enjoy the HD TV experience:

HD TVs show TV programmes in crystal clarity

• an HD subscription TV service from Sky or Virgin Media
• or Freesat HD from the BBC/ITV – which, as with Sky, means having a satellite dish attached to your house.

But that has changed with the launch of Freeview HD, a service that makes HD readily available to anyone with a standard TV aerial.

What is HD TV?

You can read all about the superior viewing experience of HD TV in the Which? guide to HD TV. HD TV is a new standard of TV with better-quality picture and sound than standard-definition TV – more like the standard you'd see at a cinema.

HD offers more colours and a higher picture resolution. This can make HD TV images clearer, sharper, more detailed and lifelike.

To read reviews and ratings of the latest HD-ready TVs, check out the Which? LCD and plasma TV review.

What TV channels will be available on Freeview HD?

Initially BBC, ITV and Channel 4 HD channels will be available on Freeview HD, along with S4C HD in Wales. Not all programmes from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are broadcast in HD but there’s a wide range of content available, from wildlife documentaries to sport – including the 2010 World Cup.

Five HD aims to launch on Freeview HD in late 2010.

Freeview HD will show BBC HD

When does Freeview HD start broadcasting?

Until relatively recently, HD wasn’t possible on Freeview because there was insufficient airwave spectrum available. The digital switchover means that analogue channels are being switched off, freeing up airwave space and making an HD signal via Freeview possible.

Freeview HD transmissions began in December 2009 in London and are planned to be rolled out to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Bradford and Newcastle by the end of March 2010. This means almost 50% of the UK population will be able to get Freeview HD in time for the 2010 World Cup.

The rest of the country will start to receive the service in line with their digital switchover dates. Freeview claims 98.5% of the UK will be able to get Freeview HD by the end of digital switchover in 2012. 

The Freeview website has a postcode checker that tells you when Freeview HD will be available at your address. 

How to watch Freeview HD

To watch Freeview HD, you'll need an HD-ready TV and one of the following:

• a Freeview HD set-top box 
• a Freeview HD personal video recorder (PVR), which will let you record TV shows in high definition
• a TV with an integrated Freeview HD tuner

Existing Freeview boxes or PVRs will not be able to receive HD broadcasts. An HDMI cable is needed rather than a standard Scart lead – HDMI cables may come included with the HD set-top boxes.

When can I buy Freeview HD equipment?

Freeview HD broadcasts started at the end of 2009 in certain areas, but the first Freeview HD equipment is only just hitting the shops. In February 2010 Humax launched the HD-FOX T2, the first ever Freeview HD box for sale in the UK, costing around £179.

The Humax HD-FOX T2 is one of a range of set-top boxes expected from the company this year. Toshiba has confirmed that it will be launching its first Freeview HD equipment around June. 

We've got the Humax HD-FOX T2 at our lab now, so keep an eye on Which? Freeview and Freesat set-top box review for the results. 

The first TVs with integrated Freeview HD tuners are now for sale. According to Sony, three quarters of the 2010 Bravia range will come complete with Freeview HD, and the first models are already instore. Panasonic TVs with integrated Freeview HD are available to preorder now. 

We'll be getting Sony's Bravia Freeview HD TVs into our lab as soon as possible, so check the Which? LCD and plasma TV reviews over the next few weeks to see how they do in our tests.

Will my existing Freeview equipment stop working?

Don’t panic at the prospect of having to buy yet more new TV equipment – you only need to buy new equipment if you specifically want to watch Freeview in HD.

If you’re already set up for digital switchover and you’re not fussed about HD television, you don’t need to do a thing. For more information on what digital switchover means for you, check out the Which? guide to digital switchover.

Your existing Freeview set-top boxes and TVs will carry on working as they do now – you just won’t be able to use them to watch HD television.

Be the first for Freeview HD news

Which? will be reviewing the latest Freeview HD equipment as soon as it launches. We've sent the first Freeview HD set-top box for sale, the Humax HD-FOX T2, straight to our lab and will be testing the first TVs with integrated Freeview HD tuners in the next couple of weeks. 

It’s worth checking our reviews before you buy, as we’ll be able to measure how the quality of Freeview HD compares with Sky HD or Freesat HD. 

Even better, sign up to our weekly Which? Technology email to keep updated all the latest Freeview HD equipment news.

Get involved with Which? using Twitter, email and RSS

If you'd like news via RSS subscribe to the Which? news RSS feed. If you have an older web browser you may need to copy and paste http://www.which.co.uk/feeds/reviews/news.xml into your newsreader. More details on RSS news feeds.

On Twitter you can follow WhichTech for regular tech tweets.

Get email updates - keep your finger on the pulse of digital technology with the weekly email from the Which? Technology team. 

Every Tuesday we'll send you the latest news and reviews of MP3 players, mobile phones, cameras, high-definition TVs and other gadgets. 

It's packed with the latest product launches, First Look reviews, expert advice and some incredible deals - can you afford not to be the first to find out?