Freeview prepares for HD upgrade

UK digital-terrestrial platform Freeview has launched a publicity campaign warning viewers of the need to retune their equipment in the run-up to the upgrade of the platform to accommodate HD channels.

All viewers will need to retune their receivers on September 30 to continue to receive all the channels available to them.

The changes will enable coverage of commercial channel Five to increase by about 500,000 homes, and will also mean that a small number of viewers will no longer be able to receive ITV3 and ITV4 on the platform. A new channel, Quest, will also join the platform, while The Community Channel will no longer be available in areas that have already gone through switchover.