Updated: 16 November 2009
This is possibly the most frequently asked question!
For some time, Freeview have promised to roll out Freeview HD to the majority of the UK in time for the 2012 Olympics in London. However, there are also plans to have Freeview HD available to 50% of the UK’s homes in time for the 2010 World Cup (football) which takes place in June and July.
The BBC published a press release on 16/11/09 detailing exactly which areas will be able to receive Freeview HD with the use of either a Freeview HD equipped LCD TV or Freeview HD set-top-box. The areas outlined are as follows:-
England
[Area - transmitter group - date]
Manchester, Winter Hill, 2 December 2009
London, Crystal Palace, 2 December 2009
Newcastle and Tyneside, Pontop Pike, February 2010
Leeds and Bradford, Emley Moor, March 2010
Birmingham, Lichfield, March 2010
Liverpool, central Lancashire, Cheshire, north Staffordshire, Winter Hill relays, March 2010
Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Stockland Hill, April 2010
Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Mendip, April 2010
Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, Beacon Hill, Caradon Hill, Huntshaw Cross, Redruth August 2010
Cumbria and the Lake District, Caldbeck, October 2010
Any areas not included above will only be able to receive Freeview HD when the Digital Switchover is complete. This may change, however it is currently as follows:-
Freeview HD 2011
Bedfordshire, Berkshire (parts), Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, East Midlands, East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire (parts), Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands (remainder), and West Yorkshire (remainder).
Freeview HD 2012
Berkshire (remainder), County Durham, Greater London (remainder), Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Surrey, Sussex, Teesside, Tyneside.
Wales
Cardiff, Newport, Wenvoe, March 2010
Swansea, Kilvey Hill, March 2010
West and central Wales, Blaenplwyf, March 2010
Carmarthenshire, Carmel, April 2010
Rest of Wales, Long Mountain, Moel y Parc, Presely mid-June 2010
Anglesey, Llanddona, July 2010
Wales will have switched over to digital and the roll-out of Freeview HD will be complete by the end of July 2010.
Scotland
Glasgow, central Scotland, Black Hill, February 2010 – advance network
Shetland, Bressay, May 2010
Orkney, Keelylang Hill, May 2010
Caithness, North Sutherland, Rumster Forest, mid-June 2010
Lewis, Wester Ross, North West Sutherland, Western Isles, Eitshal Skriaig, July 2010
Angus, Dundee, Perth, and parts of Fife, Angus, August 2010
Aberdeenshire, Durris, September 2010
Morayshire, Strathspey, and parts of Easter Ross, Knockmore, October 2010
South West Scotland, Caldbeck Scotland, October 2010
Inverness and the Great Glen, Rosemarkie, October 2010
South West Highlands and Islands, Torosay, October 2010
Scottish Borders, Selkirk, November 2010 – retrofit
Then Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme so that the whole of Scotland is switched over to digital and will be able to receive Freeview HD by the end of Q2, 2011.
Northern Ireland
Freeview HD rolls out with the rest of the switchover programme so that the whole of Northern Ireland is switched over to digital and will be able to receive Freeview HD by the end of 2012.
Other areas
Isle of Man, Douglas, October 2010
Channel Islands, Fremont Point, end 2010
BBC Freeview HD Press Release
You can read the full press release here.
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