This is a list of current high definition channels that are available in the United Kingdom, together with those coming in the future, and those that have ceased broadcasting.
All HD channels in the UK broadcast at 1080i, apart from Sky Sports Main Event UHD channel and the BT Sport Ultimate 4K.
[1] HD channels can dynamically switch between 1080i/25 and 1080p/25 when broadcast via Freeview HD. [2]
Channel name | Content | Type | Owner/parent company | Launch date |
---|---|---|---|---|
4seven HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | Channel Four Television Corporation | 1 July 2014 |
Al Jazeera English HD | Al Jazeera Media Network | 26 November 2013 | ||
Alibi HD | UKTV (BBC Studios) | 3 July 2012 | ||
AMC from BT HD | AMC Networks International Zone | 28 August 2015 | ||
Animal Planet HD | Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 27 February 2012 | ||
Arirang TV HD | 100% HD | Independent | Korea International Broadcasting Foundation | 26 September 2016 |
BBC Alba HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | BBC | October 2021 |
BBC One HD | Simulcast [n 1] | 3 November 2010 | ||
BBC One Northern Ireland HD [n 2] | Simulcast | 24 October 2012 | ||
BBC One Scotland HD [n 3] | 14 January 2013 | |||
BBC One Wales HD [n 4] | 29 January 2013 | |||
BBC Two HD | 26 March 2013 | |||
BBC Two Northern Ireland HD [n 2] | 29 November 2018 | |||
BBC Two Wales HD [n 4] | ||||
BBC Three HD | 10 December 2013 | |||
BBC Four HD | ||||
BBC News HD | ||||
BBC Parliament HD | April 2022 | |||
BBC Scotland HD | 24 February 2019 | |||
Bloomberg HD | Bloomberg L.P. | 1 March 2017 | ||
Boomerang HD | Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 24 June 2015 | ||
Cartoon Network HD | 14 September 2011 | |||
CBBC HD | BBC | 10 December 2013 | ||
CBeebies HD | ||||
Channel 4 HD | Channel Four Television Corporation | 10 December 2007 | ||
Channel 5 HD | Paramount Networks UK & Australia | 13 July 2010 | ||
CNBC Europe HD | Universal Networks International (NBCUniversal) | 1 March 2019 | ||
CNN International HD | Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 28 June 2016 | ||
Colors HD | Viacom 18 | 14 February 2017 | ||
Comedy Central HD | Paramount UK Partnership (Paramount British Pictures/Sky) | 9 August 2010 | ||
Create & Craft HD | Ideal Shopping Direct plc | 23 September 2019 | ||
Crime + Investigation HD | A+E Networks UK (A+E Networks/Sky) | 5 November 2008 | ||
U&Dave HD | UKTV (BBC Studios) | 10 October 2011 | ||
Daystar HD | 100% HD | Independent | Daystar TV Network | 23 November 2015 |
Discovery HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 22 May 2006 |
E! HD | NBCUniversal | 8 October 2012 | ||
E4 HD | Channel Four Television Corporation | 14 December 2009 | ||
U&Eden HD | UKTV (BBC Studios) | 4 October 2010 | ||
eir Sport 1 HD [n 2] | eir | 15 August 2010 | ||
Eurosport 1 HD | Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 25 July 2012 | ||
Eurosport 2 HD | 3 September 2012 | |||
Film4 HD | Channel Four Television Corporation | 20 July 2010 | ||
France 24 English HD | Independent | France Médias Monde | 28 June 2018 | |
FreeSports HD | Simulcast | Premier Media S.à.r.l. | 25 September 2018 | |
GB News HD | All Perspectives Ltd | 13 June 2021 | ||
Gold HD | UKTV (BBC Studios) | 2 October 2017 | ||
Ideal World HD | Ideal Shopping Direct plc | 23 September 2019 | ||
Iran International HD | Independent | Global Media Circulating Ltd | 3 April 2018 | |
ITV1 HD [n 5] | Simulcast | ITV plc | 7 June 2008 | |
ITV2 HD | ITV Digital Channels Ltd (ITV plc) | 7 October 2010 | ||
ITV3 HD | 15 November 2010 | |||
ITV4 HD | ||||
ITVBe HD | 19 November 2014 | |||
La Liga TV HD | Independent | Premier Media S.à.r.l. | 13 January 2020 | |
LFCTV HD | Liverpool F.C. | 28 October 2014 | ||
Loveworld TV HD | Loveworld Ltd | 13 August 2019 | ||
More4 HD | Simulcast | Channel Four Television Corporation | 4 February 2013 | |
MTV HD | Paramount Networks UK & Australia | 13 February 2013 | ||
MTV Live HD | 100% HD | Independent | 16 December 2008 | |
MUTV HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | Manchester United F.C. | 14 July 2014 |
National Geographic Channel HD | NGC-UK Partnership (National Geographic Society/Disney Channels Worldwide) | 22 May 2006 | ||
National Geographic Wild HD | 1 April 2009 | |||
NHK World HD | 100% HD | Independent | NHK | 9 September 2011 |
Nick Jr. HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | Nickelodeon UK (Paramount Networks UK & Australia/Sky) | 5 July 2016 |
Nickelodeon HD | 5 October 2010 | |||
Paramount Network HD | Paramount Networks UK & Australia | 21 July 2018 | ||
Viaplay Sports 1 HD | Independent | 20 July 2015 | ||
Viaplay Sports 2 HD | 8 March 2019 | |||
Quest HD | Simulcast | Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 3 August 2018 | |
QVC HD | Qurate Retail Group | 21 April 2015 | ||
QVC Beauty HD | Qurate Retail Group | |||
Racing TV HD | Racing UK Ltd | 7 March 2016 | ||
RT UK HD | (ANO) TV-Novosti | 19 January 2013 | ||
RTÉ2 HD [n 2] | Raidió Teilifís Éireann | 16 May 2012 | ||
S4C HD | S4C Authority | 6 June 2016 | ||
Sky Atlantic HD | Sky | 1 February 2011 | ||
Sky Arts HD | 22 May 2006 | |||
Sky Cinema Action HD | 100% HD [n 6] | 8 October 2008 | ||
Sky Cinema Animation HD | 23 July 2020 | |||
Sky Cinema Comedy HD | 15 October 2008 | |||
Sky Cinema Drama HD | 8 October 2008 | |||
Sky Cinema Family HD | 15 October 2008 | |||
Sky Cinema Greats HD | 8 October 2008 | |||
Sky Cinema Hits HD | 22 May 2006 | |||
Sky Cinema Premiere HD | 20 March 2008 | |||
Sky Cinema Sci Fi & Horror HD | 15 October 2008 | |||
Sky Cinema Select HD | 28 March 2013 | |||
Sky Cinema Thriller HD | 22 May 2006 | |||
Sky Comedy HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | 27 January 2020 | ||
Sky Crime HD | 1 October 2019 | |||
Sky Documentaries HD | 27 May 2020 | |||
Sky History HD | A+E Networks UK (A+E Networks/Sky) | 26 October 2006 | ||
Sky History2 HD | 1 December 2015 | |||
Sky Intro Channel HD | 100% HD | Sky | 9 May 2016 | |
Sky Max HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | 1 September 2021 | ||
Sky Nature HD | 27 May 2020 | |||
Sky News HD | 100% HD | 6 May 2010 | ||
Sky Showcase HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | 1 September 2021 | ||
Sky Sports Action HD [n 7] | 17 March 2008 | |||
Sky Sports Arena HD | 18 July 2017 | |||
Sky Sports Box Office HD | 100% HD | 2 April 2015 | ||
Sky Sports Box Office 2 HD | Independent | 28 October 2020 | ||
Sky Sports Cricket HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | 31 July 2006 | |
Sky Sports Extra HD | 18 July 2017 | |||
Sky Sports F1 HD | 9 March 2012 | |||
Sky Sports Football HD | 18 July 2017 | |||
Sky Sports Golf HD | 29 April 2010 | |||
Sky Sports Main Event HD | 22 May 2006 | |||
Sky Sports Mix HD | 24 August 2016 | |||
Sky Sports News HD | 100% HD | 23 August 2010 | ||
Sky Sports NFL HD [n 7] | HD/upscaled SD mix | 3 September 2020 | ||
Sky Sports Premier League HD | 12 August 2014 | |||
Sky Sports Racing HD | Sky/Arena Racing Company | 13 December 2018 | ||
Sky Witness HD | Sky | 6 October 2009 | ||
Smithsonian Channel HD | SNI/SI Networks LLC | 12 February 2019 | ||
Sony Entertainment Television HD | Sony Pictures Television | 1 August 2017 | ||
Sony Max HD | 1 August 2017 | |||
SportyStuff TV HD | Independent | Greyhound TV Ltd | 1 February 2021 | |
STV HD [n 3] | Simulcast | STV Group plc | 6 June 2010 | |
Syfy HD | Universal Networks International (NBCUniversal) | 26 January 2009 | ||
TCM Movies HD | Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 4 September 2012 | ||
TG4 HD [n 2] | Teilifís na Gaeilge | 3 August 2016 | ||
TJC HD | The Jewellery Channel Ltd | 28 November 2019 | ||
TLC HD | Discovery EMEA (Warner Bros. Discovery) | 30 April 2013 | ||
TNT Sports 1 HD | Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe | 1 August 2013 | ||
TNT Sports 2 HD | ||||
TNT Sports 3 HD | 1 August 2015 | |||
TNT Sports Box Office HD | 100% HD | Independent | 17 April 2018 | |
TNT Sports Box Office 2 HD | 4 November 2019 | |||
TNT Sports 4 HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | 3 August 2009 | |
TNT Sports Extra 1 HD | 29 July 2015 | |||
TNT Sports Extra 2 HD | ||||
TNT Sports Extra 3 HD | ||||
TNT Sports Extra 4 HD | ||||
TNT Sports Extra 5 HD | ||||
TNT Sports Extra 6 HD | ||||
TNT Sports Ultimate | 100% UHD | Separate schedule | 1 August 2015 | |
TRT World HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | Turkish Radio and Television Corporation | 2 May 2017 |
Utsav Gold HD | Star India (The Walt Disney Company India) | 6 December 2017 | ||
Utsav Plus HD | 5 July 2012 | |||
UTV HD [n 2] | ITV plc | 5 October 2010 | ||
Virgin TV Ultra HD | 100% UHD | Independent | Virgin Media (Liberty Global) | 17 September 2018 |
U&W HD | HD/upscaled SD mix | Simulcast | UKTV (BBC Studios) | 12 October 2011 |
WION (World Is One News) HD | Independent | Zee Media Corporation Ltd | 15 March 2021 | |
Zee Cinema HD | Simulcast | Zee Entertainment Enterprises | 3 September 2018 | |
Freeview is the United Kingdom's sole digital terrestrial television platform. It is operated by Everyone TV and DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. It was launched on 30 October 2002, taking over the licence from ITV Digital which collapsed that year. The service provides consumer access via an aerial to the seven DTT multiplexes covering the United Kingdom. As of July 2020, it has 85 TV channels, 26 digital radio channels, 10 HD channels, six text services, 11 streamed channels, and one interactive channel.
Top Up TV was a pay TV service in the United Kingdom that was launched in March 2004, operating on the digital terrestrial television platform. The service aimed to "top up" Freeview customers by providing additional content and services through encrypted TV channels unavailable to other viewers.
U&Dave is a British free-to-air television channel that mainly broadcasts comedy-oriented factual programming. It is owned by UKTV, a subsidiary of BBC Studios.
1080i is a term used in high-definition television (HDTV) and video display technology. It means a video mode with 1080 lines of vertical resolution. The "i" stands for interlaced scanning method. This format was once a standard in HDTV. It was particularly used for broadcast television. This is because it can deliver high-resolution images without needing excessive bandwidth.
Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom encompasses over 100 television, radio and interactive services broadcast via the United Kingdom's terrestrial television network and receivable with a standard television set. The majority of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services, including the five former analogue channels, are broadcast free-to-air, and a further selection of encrypted pay TV services are also available. Freeview is the only DTT service since Top Up TV closed in 2013.
1080p is a set of HDTV high-definition video modes characterized by 1,920 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down the screen vertically; the p stands for progressive scan, i.e. non-interlaced. The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a resolution of 2.1 megapixels. It is often marketed as Full HD or FHD, to contrast 1080p with 720p resolution screens. Although 1080p is sometimes referred to as 2K resolution, other sources differentiate between 1080p and (true) 2K resolution.
Freesat is a British free-to-air satellite television service, first formed as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc and now owned by Everyone TV. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. Freesat offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television, with a broadly similar selection of channels available without subscription for users purchasing a receiver.
Now is a subscription over-the-top streaming television service launched in the United Kingdom in 2012. It is operated by Sky Group in Europe, and Xfinity in the US; both owned by the American media conglomerate Comcast.
ITV1 HD is a British free-to-air high-definition public broadcast television network operated by ITV plc, the company which is contracted to provide 13 ITV1 services across the UK. ITV1 HD simulcasts them in high-definition. ITV1 HD is available to view in England, Wales, Scottish Borders and the Channel Islands on Freesat via channel 103, Freeview channel 103, Sky channel 103, Virgin Media channel 103 and in Switzerland on SwisscomTV.
EE TV is a subscription IPTV service offered by EE; a brand of British telecommunications company BT Group. It requires the signing up to and use of the EE Broadband internet and phone service, with connection via EE's official router, the EE Smart Hub.
BBC Two Wales is a Welsh free-to-air television channel owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales as a variation of the BBC Two network. It is broadcast from Central Square in Cardiff with live continuity provided by a team of announcer/directors. The channel opts out from the main BBC Two schedule.
There are four major forms of digital television (DTV) broadcast in the United Kingdom: a direct-to-home satellite service from the Astra 28.2°E satellites provided by Sky UK, a cable television service provided by Virgin Media ; a free-to-air satellite service called Freesat; and a free-to-air digital terrestrial service called Freeview. In addition, an IPTV system known as BT TV is provided by BT. Individual access methods vary throughout the country. 77% of the United Kingdom has access to HDTV via terrestrial digital television. Satellite is the only source of HDTV broadcast available for the remaining 23%.
High-definition television in the United Kingdom is available via cable, IPTV, satellite and terrestrial television. The first high-definition broadcasts began in late 2005 and since then the number of channels available to view has grown to a maximum of 87 that can be viewed on pay-TV service, Sky.
Freeview is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the digital terrestrial television platform in the United Kingdom. The service was launched at 5 am on 30 October 2002 and is jointly operated by its five equal shareholders – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB and transmitter operator Arqiva. This article documents the history of the Freeview service, from its inception up to the present.
4K resolution refers to a horizontal display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. Digital television and digital cinematography commonly use several different 4K resolutions. In television and consumer media, 3840 × 2160 with a 16:9 aspect ratio is the dominant 4K standard, whereas the movie projection industry uses 4096 × 2160.
Sky Sports is a group of British subscription sports channels operated by the satellite pay television company Sky Group, and is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It has played a major role in the increased commercialisation of British sport since 1991, and has sometimes played a large role inducing organisational changes in the sports it broadcasts, most notably when it encouraged the First Division to break away from the Football League to form the Premier League in 1992.
TNT Sports is a group of pay television sports channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Now owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and BT Group, they first launched as BT Sport on 1 August 2013.
Ultra-high-definition television today includes 4K UHD and 8K UHD, which are two digital video formats with an aspect ratio of 16:9. These were first proposed by NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories and later defined and approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
TVNZ Duke, formerly Duke and stylized as TVNZ DUKE or DUKE, is a New Zealand television channel run by state broadcaster Television New Zealand. It screens programming targeted at a male audience. It was launched on 20 March 2016 to replace TVNZ's popup channel that was used to air the Wimbledon Championships. Initially advertised as a male-skewed channel, this branding was later dropped.
Sport Ultra HD was the UK's first Ultra HD channel and it's exclusive to BT TV.
Feature of the Freeview HD spec that allows the broadcaster to dynamically select between 1080p / 25fps and 1080i / 25fps transmission.