In a coincidence that’s sure to make some marketers somewhere very happy, Freeview today has celebrated the technical launch of its HD service alongside the announcement that the standard service has now been installed in 10 million homes across the country.

However, when we say that HD is launching today, we don’t really mean it in the sense most consumers might imagine (or hope). In fact, the service is broadcasting its first HD transmission but as the hardware to receive such a transmission isn’t on sale yet, it’s really just a glorified test run. However, it’s still a bit step in a network that started out with a reputation for incredibly low quality video and audio capabilities.

Lise Howling, Managing Director of Freeview said: “Becoming the main digital TV service in 10 million homes is a great way to end the year and a fabulous early Christmas present. Freeview is a British success story, and it is a testament to both the simplicity of the service and the hard work of the team that we have hit 10 million so soon.”

The big media launch of Freeview HD should come early in 2010 when consumer sets become available and the service is broadcast outside of the selected London boroughs it will be sent to this week.

Despite this, Freeview has been growing in popularity steadily over the last few years. A massive increase in the amount of televisions with built in Freeview receivers and a huge national campaign from the government to prepare people for the digital switchover has certainly helped the service explode in popularity. Freeview expects 50% of all households in the UK will be able to access the 2010 world cup in HD by June next year using the service.


Written by: Douglas, who runs a website about UK SEO Agency