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BBC to roll out English regions in HD by April 2023

BBC to roll out English regions in HD by April 2023
© BBC
The BBC confirms that the rollout of HD versions of the BBC One English regions will be complete by April 2023.

The BBC has confirmed that HD versions of BBC One's English regions will be rolled out by April 2023.

Viewers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have enjoyed access to a HD version of the corporation's flagship channel for many years, but the many English regional variants have remained in SD quality - mainly for cost reasons.

The BBC has now confirmed a timetable that will see all of the HD regions rolled out on Sky, Freeview, Youview and Freesat by April next year, meaning that viewers can access their local version of BBC One in HD by default on channel 101 or channel 1, depending on the platform.

The HD regions launched first on Sky Glass last year and were made available via Virgin Media earlier this year.

When the changes happen, Sky and Freesat viewers who do not have an HD TV will receive a national SD feed of BBC One, with the SD regions being closed down in order to make room for their HD counterparts.

HD versions of BBC Parliament, BBC Alba and BBC Two Northern Ireland - all of which currently only broadcast in SD quality on satellite - will also launch by the deadline of April.

Kieran Clifton, the BBC's director of distribution, said: "By Spring next year, viewers in England will be able to receive BBC One HD for their region and not have to tune away to watch their local news and programming.

"This, coupled with upgrades to BBC channels that aren't currently available on some devices in HD, will mean viewers will get a more easily accessible, better quality experience when watching BBC programmes from early next year."

The phased rollout is expected to begin in the new year.

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