91Èȱ¬

The 91Èȱ¬ today announces it will be launching a simulcast of 91Èȱ¬ One in high definition (HD) this Autumn.

91Èȱ¬ One HD, which will simulcast a network version of the 91Èȱ¬ One schedule for the first time, will see some of the 91Èȱ¬'s most loved programmes including EastEnders, Holby City, The One Show, The Apprentice, The Weakest Link and QI move to HD by the end of the year. They will be broadcast alongside Autumn schedule highlights including Strictly Come Dancing, Human Planet and Waterloo Road.

Plans are also underway for HD moves for Songs Of Praise and Casualty, as well as Match Of The Day, A Question Of Sport, and Blue Peter.

91Èȱ¬ One in HD will be made available to all digital television platforms offering HD channels – Freesat, Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.

It will be in addition to the existing 91Èȱ¬ HD channel, which will showcase the best of the rest of the 91Èȱ¬ in HD. It is also announced today that the 91Èȱ¬ HD Channel itself will extend its regular broadcast hours over the coming months from around nine hours a day to 12.

The 91Èȱ¬ is charged with "delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services" under its Royal Charter. With today's announcement, the 91Èȱ¬ continues its transition to deliver all its programmes in HD, with 91Èȱ¬ One leading the way.

Jana Bennett, Director 91Èȱ¬ Vision, says: "91Èȱ¬ HD has established itself as the most popular HD service, and these changes are important next steps in improving that service still further, providing an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of 91Èȱ¬ programmes in the highest possible quality. We recognise that audiences have already been enjoying many of their favourite programmes in HD, and I'm delighted that we can now broaden their choice."

Danielle Nagler, Head of 91Èȱ¬ HD, says: "HD is the future of television: people who have HD have clearly told us that they want more of their licence fee-funded content in HD. I'm delighted that the HD simulcast of 91Èȱ¬ One will become available on satellite, on cable, and now also on Freeview's new HD service. This is a key moment for us on the journey to HD becoming the norm for all our programmes and channels.

"Audiences have already been enjoying many 91Èȱ¬ One programmes in HD on our existing HD channel and the arrival of 91Èȱ¬ One simulcast in HD will make it easier for them to find the programmes they love in high definition. 91Èȱ¬ HD – the most popular HD channel in the UK – will continue to show programmes from across all 91Èȱ¬ channels."

Jay Hunt, Controller, 91Èȱ¬ One, says: "HD is the gold standard for broadcasting, and it's right that we bring all the excitement of HD to 91Èȱ¬ One – the most watched channel in the UK.

"91Èȱ¬ One HD will bring families together for shared viewing of their favourite programmes from EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing to The One Show, in incredible and vivid detail."

The Autumn launch is the first stage in delivering 91Èȱ¬ One in HD. The majority of programmes in the 91Èȱ¬ One network evening schedule will be available in HD at launch, and by 2012 it is expected that the vast majority of all 91Èȱ¬ One titles across all hours will be in HD.

The 91Èȱ¬'s existing HD Channel will continue to remain home to the best of the 91Èȱ¬'s programmes from across all its channels, including Top Gear, the Proms, Later… With Jools Holland, The Culture Show, Dragons' Den, Being Human, Mad Men, sporting programmes including Wimbledon, as well as CBeebies favourites In The Night Garden and ZingZillas.

Notes to Editors

91Èȱ¬ One HD will be made available to Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media platforms.

The 91Èȱ¬'s award-winning 91Èȱ¬ HD channel is available on Freesat 108; Freeview 50; Sky 143 and Virgin 108. 91Èȱ¬ HD was voted Channel of the Year by Freesat viewers last year, and has also won TRIC awards for HD Programme of the Year for coverage of the Beijing Olympics (2008) and for the natural history series Life (2009).

In a summer of sporting events, 91Èȱ¬ HD will be broadcasting more sport than ever before, with Wimbledon, Queen's and the World Cup.

The 91Èȱ¬ HD channel launched in December 2007 and was the UK's first free-to-air high definition television channel. The channel features a broad range of quality programmes from across the 91Èȱ¬ channels, including spine-tingling drama, heart-stopping nature epics, and the very best of sport, entertainment and music programming in beautiful detail.

HD is the latest in a long line of major improvements in television technology, which has moved from black-and-white analogue to widescreen colour over the last 50 years. HD gives exceptionally clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and up to five times more detail than standard definition, as well as the possibility of surround sound.

To find out what you need to do to get HD visit bbc.co.uk.

LG