New High Definition broadcast from Channel 4.

In the UK, Channel 4 announced yesterday that they would would soon be providing their own high definition TV service in December 2007. As with the current programming on BBC HD it will be available for free via the SKY HD box (no word yet on the Virgin Platform). Sadly this does mean that although the Channel 4 service is being provided free of charge, you’ll still have to fork out for a Sky HD box and viewing card in order to see it.

“Channel 4’s aim is to offer our viewers maximum flexibility in accessing our high quality programmes and content at a time and in the format of their choosing,”Be it sports, movies, documentaries or entertainment, Sky HD customers can now access the richest selection of content in HD.”

This announcement is a step up for free to air High Definition programming because Channel 4 are going to be the first channel to broadcast all their content in both standard and High Definition simultaneously. For now the BBC HD service is restricted to selected High definition content and a lot of repeated programming.