This is already common knowledge that because of the bandwidth sell off by the government, once the digital switch over is complete there will not be enough space to air many, if any Hi Def channels via freeview, so all you people that have your nice LCD or Plasma 40" + screens can watch telly in poor quality with blocking and digital smearing because of the stretched picture, unless you are willing to pay the hefty premium and receive content via cable or satellite!

please remind me again why the digital switch over is better for the consumer? great to see the bbc monopolising when all British people fund the bbc via their television licence, this reminds me of the sell off of the public funded uk infrastructure to private companies in the 80's which was supposed to be better for the consumers but all that happened is the cash was milked away services suffered and we ever increasingly pay extortionate rates!

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I agree it's a real bummer that HD freeview is not looking like a big future prospect
(but that may change as people realise & protest this).

Generally tho I'm all for a BBC HD service (I don't see how they are "monopolising" anything in this, there are several other high def TV channels).

In fact the current BBC HD channel I get on my satellite box is often the best looking of all the HD TV channels as they often use notably higher bitrates in their broadcasts than many of the others in the UK.
I hope this continues from the current 'trial' channel to their 'regular' one.

I look forward to the BBC,1,2,3,and4 ,and ITV1,2,3 and 4, later joined by Channel 4(as soon as their encrytion deal with SKY is finished,joining together with Di-Def programmes on Satellite via Freesat. By this time next year those who paid out for a HD ready TV should be able to enjoy Nine hours a day -just from BBC, with ITV promising more also.
The picture (on satellite) is not so bleak.

Well at least high def has come although paying is another thing all together.